Lately, universal free lunch plan in Seoul is at issue in Korea. This is because there was a Seoul Free Lunch Referendum a few months ago. Policies according to the result of the referendum are putting effect at elementary schools in Seoul these days.

          The former mayor of Seoul Oh Se-hoon proposed to provide a limited free meal service to the 30% of the impoverished children in Seoul despite the Democratic Party proposed to make the free meal service to every kid in Seoul starting from younger elementary school children and gradually to middle school children. This has become the cause of Oh Se-hoon’s action to make the final decision of the policy through a referendum. The referendum was later rejected due to the low voting rate of the referendum of 25.7%. This voting rate is significantly lower than 33% of what Oh Se-hoon had expected. This later contributed his resignation as the mayor of Seoul. This is because he promised he will resign if the voting rate is lower than 33% to draw support from public to object to this policy. From November, 1, The Seoul Free Lunch has started in Seoul as soon as the new mayor of Seoul, Park Won-soon, took office as a successor to Oh Se-hoon. Universal free lunch plan is expending to elementary schools in Jeolla-do, Gangwon-do and this will go into effect at middle schools also from next year.

          Universal free lunch plan at elementary schools came into action with many difficulties, because there were a lot of oppositions to this proposed policy. The main argument of people who are against about universal free lunch plan is that the citizens’ tax burden will increase a lot because of it. Thus this is just for minority by crisis of majority. I do not deny this policy could show crisis of majority for minority, but all crisis is not bad. Also, in this case, paying taxes more for our children who are the hopes of our future is not only for giving them equal treatment, but also for getting better management from our nation. Actually, our tax for social welfare is very lower than other developed countries’. By more paying taxes, we can maintain our society well, beautifully and justly. In this vein, I argue that universal free lunch plan at elementary schools should be carried out as an extension of free education, to reduce the shame of impoverished children and to cause birthrate increase.

           First, free Lunch of schools is an extension of free education. Korean government is offering free education to all Korean children until middle school. It is because education is one of most important condition for human to live well and nicely. In this situation, if some students attending elementary or middle school cannot afford the food service expense, it can be a huge problem to them. Food is more fundamental thing for human being than education. Thus Korean government should provide the essential thing, food, to Korean children with free education.  

          However, some people might argue that there is already free lunch for only impoverished children at schools. Still, my second supporting reason is that previous free lunch to only impoverished children of school can bring shame to them. Even though schools keep it secret between the students and teachers, most of students become know who are getting free meal. Sometimes, this can be a shame and make them lose their confidence in young age, because poverty has been always presented low-graded. They are always in lack of opportunity to get something. For them, what can we do at the least?  

          At last, universal free lunch plan can cause birthrate increase. Korea ranked No. 1 in the world by the lowest birthrate. The average birthrate in Korea does not surpass 1.16 per woman. One of reasons for low birthrate is education expenses so many Koreans go to the United States to give birth to their children. This policy can relieve the burdens of education expenses for school parents somewhat.

          By these three reasons, universal free lunch plan at elementary schools can be better way for our society than previous lunch plan. This policy is already running now and we don’t know how condition will be able to change yet. However, I believe this policy should be put into effect for maintaining our society righteously and forwarding to a welfare society for our children.