Only one in five Koreans consumes enough fruits and vegetables, while fewer than one in 10 people in their 20s meet the recommended intake.
The Korea Health Promotion and Development Institute said Sept. 14 that it will launch the “Healthy Eating Practices Campaign for Single-Person Households” to promote healthy eating among single-person households and raise awareness of the importance of consuming fruits and vegetables.
About one in five people in South Korea consumes at least 17.6 ounces of fruits and vegetables a day, highlighting the urgent need to improve eating habits to ensure adequate intake.
According to the 2024 National Health Statistics, only 9.8% of men and 9.1% of women ages 19 to 29 consumed at least 17.6 ounces of fruits and vegetables a day. The rates were also low among those ages 30 to 39, at 17.5% for men and 13.5% for women.
The institute organized the campaign to help single-person households, including young adults, more easily incorporate fruits and vegetables into their daily lives and practice healthier eating habits.
The campaign will run for about seven weeks from Sept. 14 through Oct. 31, with about 600 young and middle-aged single-person households taking part.
Participants will be recruited from two groups: young and middle-aged residents of Seoul who participate in shared-meal gatherings, and young adults living alone anywhere in South Korea.
Participants will check their recommended intake, receive guidance on proper ways to consume fruits and vegetables, and complete practical assignments involving buying and eating fruits and vegetables in their daily lives.
Participants will verify their activities by submitting receipts for fruit and vegetable purchases and photos showing their participation.
The campaign will encourage participants to buy fruits and vegetables at traditional markets and other neighborhood businesses near their homes, with the goal of promoting both healthy eating habits and local commerce.
Participants will receive up to $6.67 in digital Onnuri gift certificates based on their participation results, while being encouraged to reflect on their eating habits and make fruit and vegetable consumption part of their daily routines.
Kim Heon-joo, president of the institute, said, “We will continue to pursue various initiatives to promote public health in line with changes in the dietary environment.”
Meanwhile, the institute develops national health policies and plans and supports a range of healthy-living programs, including smoking cessation, responsible alcohol consumption, nutrition and physical activity, to promote public health and prevent disease.
