Helping to save the predicament of restaurants A circle of support connected by bento 14:27 on May 20

Many restaurants have been closed due to the spread of the new coronavirus. Under such circumstances, one bento connects many people in South Korea and the circle of support is expanding.

Severe damage immediately after opening due to spread of infection

“I'm sticking to the meat because I want it to be eaten every time. I don't feel like eating unless I also eat meat.”

Kim Dong-jun (29) talks about his commitment in front of the bento. “Tezikogitenjangpokkum” (fried pork miso pickles) is a dish that goes well with the taste of Korean households. This bento will be delivered to people who need assistance, such as the elderly living alone and the disabled.

Kim opened a restaurant in early February in Canton, eastern Seoul, to serve a restaurant serving beef pail and salmon sashimi. As soon as I left my apparel-related work and tried to challenge my fiance, the infection with the new coronavirus spread in Korea. The store has been closed.

"I did deliver, but the number of users was low because the store wasn't known. I couldn't even tell if the store wasn't working because of the virus or the problem with their store."

Bento saves the restaurant

It was Seoul City that gave Kim a helping hand. The Korean restaurant industry is thriving, and Seoul is a fierce battlefield with nearly 20% of all restaurants nationwide.

However, the city has invested 1.1 billion won, or about 100 million yen in Japanese yen, as young business owners who do not have financial resources and experience due to the spread of infections have closed and closed the store one after another. We started the business of purchasing and delivering to the elderly in late March.

Kim makes about 60 bento three times a week and receives 700 yen per box. The city supports lunch boxes by ordering around 220 stores.

"It's been a tough time since it opened, but now half of our sales have been helped by this business, and it's rewarding to be able to help those in need through their bento."

Support to spread by making, delivering, and eating

Kim Hyun Woo (29) delivered the bento made by Kim Dong Jun. In fact, it is not just restaurants and the elderly who receive support for bento. Kim receives lunch boxes from restaurants and delivers them to about 20 people by car or bicycle. You will receive 350 yen for each bento.

Mr. Kim runs a copyright trading company, but he said that he participated in the business in order to supplement his life as his work decreased due to the new coronavirus.

Kim said he hadn't had many opportunities to interact with the elderly who had trouble living. However, I noticed the serious situation in which they were placed from the life I saw when delivering the bento.

Even so, the elderly people often bow their heads and thank Kim for receiving the delivery fee and delivering the bento.

“Many people are elderly people who have difficulty going out alone, and I am sorry to be thankful. How important it is to live by helping each other by meeting directly and handing over lunch boxes I learned. ”

A circle of support linked by bento boxes. These efforts have begun in Japan. In Yoshikawa City, Saitama Prefecture, lunch boxes purchased from restaurants are provided free of charge to single-parent families.

Due to the crisis of restaurants brought about by the new coronavirus, the movement to help many people is likely to spread further in the future.