POHANG, June 19, 2025 – In Pohang, South Korea, the Pohang I Children and Social Welfare Food Service Management Support Center is making strides in ensuring that all children have access to safe, nutritious meals.
Nourishing Futures: The Pohang Center’s Mission
The center, located at Handong University, is dedicated to improving the health of children, the elderly, and those with disabilities.
- The Pohang Center provides nutritional guidance to small children’s food service centers and welfare facilities.
- Fifteen nutritionists work at the center, providing support to children, the elderly, and individuals with disabilities in the Pohang area.
- The center uses innovative technology to monitor and prevent food poisoning.
The Pohang I Children and Social Welfare Food Service Management Support Center is located at Handong University. The center aims to ensure that every child receives wholesome meals, while also supporting the elderly and people with disabilities.
The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety oversees the establishment of these centers in each region, providing guidance to small children’s food service centers and welfare facilities for the elderly and disabled. The goal is to ensure that these facilities offer high-quality meals that meet hygiene, safety, and nutritional standards. Following concerns about substandard food and food poisoning, the “Special Act on Safe Management of Children’s Dietary Life” was amended to mandate registration for small children’s food service centers. This ensures all children have access to safe, hygienic meals and snacks. However, elderly and disabled facilities remain under voluntary registration.
The Pohang center’s team of 15 nutritionists works to improve the health of children, seniors, and individuals with disabilities in the Pohang area. They conduct regular visits to small food service centers, offering training on kitchen hygiene and providing guidance on balanced meal planning. The center also hosts educational programs for food service staff and participates in community events to promote a safe city for Pohang residents. They are at the forefront of promoting healthy eating habits and ensuring the safety of food for vulnerable populations.
To enhance food safety, the center utilizes an IoT-based system called “IoT Food Poisoning Prevention Protector”. This system transmits food poisoning risk data to a web server, allowing for continuous remote monitoring. The center also has a “Microbial Analysis Room” where they analyze bacteria from kitchen utensils and surfaces to detect potential food poisoning risks. This technology sets the Pohang center apart.
The center offers counseling and support to children dealing with conditions such as atopy, food allergies, precocious puberty, and weight issues related to picky eating. They also promote healthy eating habits through hands-on activities. The “Nutri-Strong Project” encourages children to overcome vegetable aversion by distributing home-growing kits with bean sprouts, mushrooms, and tomatoes. Children then cook and enjoy dishes like bean sprout japchae and tomato-mushroom pizza. Kim Mi-kyung, the head of the team, notes that seeing children embrace healthy eating habits through the center’s various projects is the most rewarding aspect of their work.
Despite its successes, the center faces budgetary constraints. The lack of funding impacts preventative programs, and a shortage of staff means each nutritionist is responsible for around 20 locations. Additionally, the wages of nutritionists employed by the KFDA are minimal, requiring dedication. The center’s location in the Pohang City Hall would increase access to health resources and programs for the general public.
The increasing importance of proper nutrition is highlighted by the rise in childcare facilities and the occurrence of food poisoning incidents in small food service centers. This shift shows that raising children is a shared responsibility of parents and the state. The health and well-being of children are crucial for the nation’s future and strength. Even in difficult circumstances, the dedicated efforts of those working at the Pohang center contribute to a brighter and healthier society.
/Park Gwi -sang citizen reporter
This article was supported by the local newspaper development fund.
