Free meal services

If you are skipping meals, there are places that will help.

Meals for children

• Child meal support (child meal card) — a card or packed meals so children can eat on days they are not at school (holidays, weekends). Apply at your community service centre.
• School meal fee support — ask the school or education office. See child-education-support.
• Community child centres — many provide meals alongside after-school care. See after-school-care.

Child hunger is a priority. Tell your community centre or 129 without hesitating.

Meals for adults

• Senior canteens and welfare centre meals — free or low-cost meals for older people.
• Religious and private free meal centres — found in most areas, on set days and times.
• Meals for homeless people — available in crisis.

How to find them

1. Ask the welfare desk at your community service centre. They know local meal provision best.
2. Call 129, describe your situation and be directed.
3. Ask your local community welfare centre.
4. Use them alongside the food bank. See food-bank.

Where to go

• The welfare desk at your local community service centre
• 129 Health and Welfare Call Centre (24 hours)
• 1688-1377 national food bank
• Local community welfare centres and child centres
• 1577-1366 · 1345 interpretation

Questions people ask

Do foreign children get meal support? It varies by local government and programme. Explain your child's situation at the community centre and ask. If they attend school, ask the school too.

I'm too embarrassed to go. It is far better than going hungry. With children especially, their health matters more than adult pride.

I have nothing for dinner tonight. Call 129. They advise 24 hours and can point you to somewhere available immediately.

I don't know where the meal centres are. Ask your community centre or 129. They will tell you what is local.

Take care

If a child is missing meals, say so today. Left alone, child hunger has lasting effects on growth and health. Telling 129, the community centre, or the child's class teacher all work.

Related

food-bank · after-school-care · child-education-support · emergency-welfare

Source

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