As prices continue to rapidly increase, it has become common to find lunch specials worth over 10,000 won ($8.30). According to the Korea Consumer Agency, the average price of eight take-out menus increased compared to the same month of last year. This is especiallydifficult for students on a budget. In such situations, where should students take their meals?

 UnivTomorrow Research Laboratory for the Twenties and Junior Analyst Group for 20s announced a study titled “How UniversityStudents Have Lunch on Campus?” The respondent pool consisted of 400 four-year university students and research took the form of an online survey. According to the study, the average monthly living expense for a university student is 334,000 won, and 43.7 percent of subjects replied that food is their largest living expense. Yet it is remarkable that they are willing to pay up to 9,425 won for lunch, with an average of 5,340 won. As the study shows, students are serious when it comes to their lunch.

 When they take lunch, 47 percent of subjects replied that they go off campus even though the school is equipped with restaurants and a cafeteria; 47.8 percent said they frequently use school accommodations. The top reason for going to the school cafeteria was the price (68.6 percent), and the top reason for going off campus was the diversity in choice (33 percent). So, why do students hesitate to use the school restaurants and cafeteria despite their being the most expense-saving options? The top answer was the poor quality of offered food (61.8 percent) and the second-place answer was the limited menu (53.4 percent). 

 It’s not so different with Kookmin University(KMU) students. Jung Jun-Hwa (Business Administration Major, 3rd grade) said that he most frequently goes to the school cafeteria, especially the one located in College of Law Building. He said he does so because the school cafeteria is nearby and affordable. He wastes neither his time nor his money at lunch. He said that his second choice for lunch is to go to off-campus restaurants, and that his last choice is takeout. Delivery was his last choice because it is the most expensive option given delivery fees; it is also the most time-consuming given the lunch rush.

  So , what makes lunch so expensive? Off-campus restauranteurssay that they must inevitably raise lunch prices. Though they might want to offer lower prices, between costly ingredients, the minimum wage, and high rent fees, they must consistently raise. Increasing personnel expenses and operating costs are what make them raise the price of their offerings and provide increased burdens to university students. 

 In an effort to reduce such burdens, various universities have established “Tenspoon.” University students work in their free time between classes and receive meal coupons instead of wages. They deliver their meal coupons to low-income students who face day-to-day living difficulties. By gathering one free hour each from 10 students, a student can reduce the burden of their food expenses. The organization’s goal is to enhance civic awareness of university students and help create a society where everyone can fit in. University students’ problems can be solved by themselves; once the organization has chapters in 300 South Kroean universities, it will narrow the gap between rich and poor students on campus.

 Students have a hard time eating sufficientlyat lunch because of financial reasons. In order to solve such difficulties, KMU recently renovated the College of Law’s cafeteria. With new kiosks on the located first floor, students no longer have to wait in line downstairs, and newly equipped tables and decorations provide them with a better environment to enjoy delicious meals through which they can also save money. 

Yeon-Su Song Editor-In-Chief
Dustn1203@kookmin.ac.kr