South Korean school meals are failing to accommodate migrant-background students with religious dietary needs. A study published Wednesday exposed significant gaps affecting Middle Eastern students specifically. Researchers from Sookmyung Women’s University’s Asia Research Institute conducted interviews between July and August 2025.
One Yemeni middle school student in Incheon described eating only rice due to language barriers. Despite explaining that certain foods violated halal dietary requirements, staff repeatedly encouraged the student anyway. Consequently, the student resorted to claiming an allergy just to avoid uncomfortable conversations.
The study involved five migrant-background students alongside four school dietitians across various education levels. According to findings, many students avoided school meals entirely, eating only rice and kimchi. For some, embarrassment and isolation compounded difficulties beyond simple dietary restrictions.
Meanwhile, dietitians reported their own struggles when attempting to accommodate diverse dietary requirements. Some prepared alternative meals but encountered passive resistance from education offices or school administrators. Additionally, separate meal preparation created hygiene concerns, increased workloads and coordination challenges among kitchen staff.
Notably, some Korean students viewed alternative meals negatively, describing them as reverse discrimination. However, researchers documented other cases where trust developed through consistent alternative meal provisions. Active communication and menu adjustments helped bridge cultural gaps in these instances.
Researchers recommended reframing school meals through mutual cultural adaptation rather than one-sided adjustment. They emphasized establishing standardized guidelines addressing diverse religious and cultural dietary restrictions nationwide. Furthermore, expanding integrated menus featuring diverse regional foods could benefit the broader student population.
Additionally, the study called for multilingual communication channels between schools and migrant families. Suggestions included regular multicultural meetings, pilot programs and clearer alternative meal policies. Ultimately, researchers hope these changes will make school meals more inclusive and equitable nationwide.
