Lee said on X that the "Geunyang Dream" program, first launched in Gyeonggi Province, would now be available across the country.
The program's Korean name, "Geunyang Dream," literally means "just giving," reflecting its principle of providing food and daily necessities first without requiring recipients to prove their eligibility.
"A society where an elderly person steals bread makes all of us guilty," Lee wrote, saying the sentiment had stayed with him and inspired the initiative.
The program provides food and basic necessities immediately to people facing financial hardship before connecting those who need further help with welfare services. The Ministry of Health and Welfare said the program will expand this month from 175 cities and counties to all local governments nationwide including Ulleungdo, an Island located near the easternmost Dokdo islets.
About 210,000 people have used the service since its pilot launch at 57 locations last December. Of them, 44,712 received welfare consultations and 4,437 were connected to programs including basic livelihood assistance and emergency welfare support.
The figures suggest that some households in South Korea still struggle to get enough food. A recent survey found that 98.3 percent of households had enough food in 2024, while about 1.7 percent did not have enough to meet their basic needs.
Among the lowest-income households, 94.8 percent had enough food in 2024, although the government does not provide a nationwide figure for the number of people who struggle to get enough food.
AJP Takeaways
- President Lee Jae Myung backed the nationwide expansion of the "Geunyang Dream" program, which provides food and basic necessities to people in financial distress without requiring proof of eligibility first.
- About 210,000 people have used the service since its pilot launch, with thousands later connected to welfare programs and emergency assistance.
- Food insecurity remains a concern in South Korea, where 1.7 percent of households failed to meet the government’s food-security benchmark in 2024.
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