When you have nothing to eat

Don't endure going hungry. There are ways to get food today.

Where you can go today

1. Free meal centres — run daily by religious facilities and welfare centres. Ask your local community centre or 129 for locations.
2. Food banks and food markets — food free or at low cost. National Food Bank 1688-1377.
3. Local migrant organisations — many provide groceries. See ngo-support.
4. Emergency welfare living costs — apply via 129 or the community centre. See emergency-welfare.
5. Religious facilities — churches, cathedrals, temples and mosques offer meals and help.

If you have children

• Apply to the local authority for a children's meal card (Kkumnamu card and similar).
• Meal support during school holidays exists — ask the community centre.
• Telling the nursery or school what has happened gets you referred to support. See school-support.
• Talk to Dream Start. See child-welfare.

The steps

1. Call 129 or your community centre and explain the situation.
2. You are directed to the nearest meal centre or food bank.
3. Food banks sometimes allow regular use after registration.
4. Apply for emergency welfare living costs at the same time.
5. Raise medical and housing problems in the same conversation.

Where to go

• 129 Health and Welfare Call Centre (24 hours)
• 1688-1377 National Food Bank
• 120 local authority call centre
• Local community centres and social welfare centres
• Local foreign residents' support centres

Questions people ask

Can foreigners use meal centres? Most free meal centres do not ask about nationality. You can simply go and eat.

How do I register with a food bank? Ask the community centre or the local food bank. Income checks are sometimes required, but emergency support also exists.

I feel too ashamed to go. A great many people use them. Losing your health is the bigger problem.

I'm undocumented. Private meal centres and religious facilities mostly don't check status. Ask migrant organisations too.

Take care

A few days without food sharply degrades judgement and stamina — it can lead to collapsing at work or an accident. Get at least one meal today. If you have children, ask for help with their meals as the first priority.

Related

emergency-welfare · homeless-emergency · unpaid-and-stranded · food-bank · ngo-support

Source

Ministry of Health and Welfare www.mohw.go.kr / As of 2026-08