아시아 11/08/05 No free lunch vote, say activists - Authorities 'wasting taxpayers' money by making a meal of referendum'..ucanews.com reporter, Seoul

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No free lunch vote, say activists

Authorities 'wasting taxpayers' money by making a meal of referendum'

ucanews.com reporter, Seoul
Korea
August 5, 2011

Social and religious leaders at a press conference

Religious leaders and civil activists are urging the people of Seoul to boycott a controversial “residents” referendum this month on the introduction of free school meals, calling it unnecessary and a waste of taxpayers’ money.

In a press conference yesterday, 43 representatives from various civil groups and all the country’s major religions said a referendum is not necessary as free school meals should apply to every child.

They urged city authorities not “to waste citizens’ taxes,” on the vote which is scheduled to take place on Aug. 24, and will cost an estimated 18.2 billion won (about US$17 million) to stage.

Voters are being asked to decide whether to provide free school lunches to all students or to just those from lower income families

The Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education wants meals for all, while the city government wants to provide lunches to children from poorer households, calling the education office’s proposals “excessive populism.”

The religious and civic leaders, however, refuted that at the press conference yesterday.

“Providing free school meals based upon income levels is wrong because it will arouse a sense of inequality and stoke resentment between rich and poor students,” they said in a statement.

Agnes Park Soon-hee, an advisor to the Korean Catholic Federation for Justice, said there is no justification for a referendum

“The city government should not divide those who have and those who have not,” as it violates human dignity, she said.