Experts at the Seoul School Health Promotion Center are concerned that elementary school students will be fed with poor quality free lunches because the price of food products is going up.

Despite fierce opposition from the Seoul Metropolitan Government, the Seoul education office has been offering free lunches, using environmentally friendly agricultural products with pesticide- and antibiotic-free vegetables and meats since the spring semester started.

While first- to third-graders receive the lunches - including four of the 25 districts whose heads are supported by the Grand National Party, which opposes free lunches - 21 of 25 district offices supported by the Democratic Party provide free lunches for fourth-graders as well using their own budgets.

According to market research by the Seoul School Health Promotion Center, the price of pig forelegs, sold at Garak Market, an agriculture and fisheries market in southern Seoul, went up 41 percent to 20,000 won ($18) per kilogram this month from 14,200 won per kilogram in February.

The price of pork bellies went up 43.2 percent from 33,800 won per kilogram this month from 23,600 won per kilogram in February.

Though the price of chicken is 11,000 won per kilogram, which was similar to or slightly higher than the price a month before, experts at the Seoul health center noted that 11,000 won is 47.6 percent higher than the price in March 2010.

The center said prices at fisheries are going up and in the case of mackerel, it was being sold at 11,800 won per kilogram, 12.4 percent more than 11,800 won per kilogram in February, noting that the price of vegetables and fruit have been on the rise.

The price hikes of agricultural products have been easing, though, said Kim Min-hoi, an official at the Seoul center, but some products are still expensive.

“The price of meat is still on an upswing in the aftermath of foot-and-mouth disease,” Kim said. “Measures to soften price hikes are needed.”


By Kim Mi-ju [mijukim@joongang.co.kr]