[2.3.1.] Student food insecurity and hunger 2024

Have a programme in place on student food insecurity

1. In response to the rising rate of youth food insecurity each year, Pusan National University(PNU) has operated the “1,000 Won Breakfast Project,” which provides breakfast KRW 1,000 (approximately USD 0.7), annually since 2016 to provide students with nutritious meals without the burden of meal costs. This project operates continuously during the semester at campus student cafeterias. For the 2024 academic year, PNU expanded the 1,000 Won Breakfast service hours to enhance students' food accessibility and dietary stability. Furthermore, PNU operates an ombudsman system for the project to gather feedback on portion sizes and menu composition, receiving high satisfaction ratings.

2. The PNU COOP (a consumer life cooperative) is a community-based nonprofit organization. It operates various facilities on campus, including cafeterias, snack bars, and cafes, providing students and campus members with affordable, high-quality food services. Currently, the Cooperative manages locations such as the Geumjung Hall Student Cafeteria, Student Union Cafeteria, cafes, 24-hour discount convenience stores, and vending machines. This ensures students have stable access to meals. Meal prices at Geumjung Hall and Student Union Hall range from KRW 4,000 to 5,500 (approximately USD 5-7), significantly lower than the 2024 average food cost in Busan. Additionally, the convenience stores and vending machines operated by the Life Cooperative sell convenient and healthy foods like eco-friendly corn, boiled eggs, and protein bars.

3. Through the 2024 “Happy Home Support Project,” PNU provided full meal subsidies to enrolled students receiving basic livelihood security benefits, alleviating the financial burden on vulnerable students. Furthermore, PNU maintained continuous operation of the dormitory cafeteria during both semesters and vacation periods of the 2024 academic year, offering balanced meals at affordable prices with clearly labeled ingredients.