Vacation "gap care" (틈새돌봄) begins July 27 — lunch and dinner at 1,461 facilities nationwide
Source material is a Korean government announcement (in Korean).
Korea's Ministry of Health and Welfare begins the vacation gap-care program on July 27 at 1,461 village care facilities nationwide, providing lunch and dinner to elementary students during the school break.
Key facts
| Start date | July 27, 2026 |
|---|---|
| Participating facilities | 1,461 village care facilities nationwide (first application-round result) |
| Gap-care centers | 1,296 sites, 9 a.m.–6 p.m. (morning snack and lunch guaranteed, dinner provided in part) |
| Lunch-care centers | 165 sites, 11 a.m.–8 p.m. (lunch and dinner provided) |
| Eligibility & fee | Any elementary student may apply in advance regardless of school-term use; additional meal portion up to 2,000 won/day and 10,000 won/week (National Basic Livelihood recipient households and the like are exempt) |
| Application & inquiries | National common number 1522-1318 |
Last checked:
Korea's Ministry of Health and Welfare announced on July 23 that, to reduce meal and care gaps during elementary school vacation, it will run the vacation gap-care program from July 27 at 1,461 village care facilities nationwide. The 1,296 gap-care centers operate from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., guaranteeing a snack and lunch in the morning and providing dinner in part, while the 165 lunch-care centers operate from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., providing lunch and dinner. Regardless of whether a child uses the center during the school term, any elementary student can use it with prior application; an additional meal portion may incur an extra fee of up to 2,000 won per day and 10,000 won per week, and households on National Basic Livelihood benefits and the like are exempt. The ministry will start with a first summer round and expand before the winter vacation within the year.
Summaries below are factual notes based on government announcements and primary sources — not evaluations or opinions.
FAQ
How many sites operate?
As a result of the first application round, 1,461 village care facilities nationwide begin operating on July 27.
How much is the fee?
An additional meal portion may incur an extra fee of up to 2,000 won per day and 10,000 won per week, and households on National Basic Livelihood benefits and the like are exempt.