Gwangju’s child meal card network has 14,491 participating stores for 7,815 eligible children, but only 45 stores sell food directly through markets, supermarkets or grocery shops, about 0.3% of the total. Restaurants account for most options, including 8,021 Korean restaurants, 2,965 general eateries and 1,471 convenience stores. The distribution also varies by district, with about 4.03 stores per child in Dong District compared with 0.99 in Nam District.
A local child care center said the network needs more age-appropriate stores within children’s daily living areas, while the city said it reviews participating businesses quarterly and removes unsuitable establishments.