'Free School Meals' Third Round of Debate Expected

Gyeonggi Province Education Superintendent Kim Sang-gon is preparing for a showdown with the Gyeonggi Provincial Assembly over his signature campaign promise of ‘free school meals.’

The Gyeonggi Provincial Office of Education announced on the 27th that it plans to submit the First Supplementary Budget Bill containing approximately 20.5 billion won for free meals for 5th and 6th grade students in urban elementary schools at the provincial assembly's interim session in March. The 20.5 billion won represents approximately 48% of the 42.5 billion won total for six months of free meals from September through next February.

This move is seen as Superintendent Kim's request to reflect the budget bill once again, regardless of its failure in the Gyeonggi Provincial Assembly in June and December.

The provincial office plans to secure the remaining 22 billion won (52%) through support from cities and counties. The Provincial Office of Education stated that Icheon, Gimpo, and Pocheon have already secured budgets, while Dongducheon, Hanam, Gunpo, and Uijeongbu have taken active stances on budget allocations.

Education Superintendent Kim hinted at this move in his New Year's address last month, stating that he would “realize free school meals for all elementary and middle school students in the province and expand universal educational welfare so that everyone can study with respect without discrimination.”

However, the provincial assembly remains chilly in its response. An assembly member from the ruling party (A member, Grand National Party) countered, saying “With local elections just around the corner, we face another round of extreme emotional conflict,” and expressed suspicion, stating “It is suspicious whether the education superintendent is strategically pushing this forward with elections in mind.”

Meanwhile, as the free school meals issue—which has sparked endless controversy over the past two rounds—surfaces again just over two months before the local elections, all eyes are on its future trajectory.