Kim Kyung-hwa Apologizes for Controversial School Lunch Comments

Kim Kyung-hwa (김경화), a former MBC announcer and current broadcaster, has issued an apology after facing backlash for her comments regarding her children's school lunches, which were replaced with non-cooked meals due to a sinkhole incident in Gangdong-gu, Seoul. On March 29, she took to Instagram to express her regret, stating, "I am sorry. I bow my head in apology. My thoughts were short-sighted." She acknowledged that her perspective had overshadowed other important circumstances and admitted to her lack of maturity in handling the situation.

In her initial post, Kim shared a photo of her child's school lunch, which consisted of two pieces of bread, a cup of fruit, and a carton of milk, emphasizing that this was not a snack but a meal served during lunchtime. She explained that a recent tragic accident near the school had led to safety concerns, resulting in the suspension of cooked meals until gas supply could be ensured.

Kim expressed her frustration, noting that while teachers were able to enjoy warm meals through delivery, the students were left with inadequate food options. She questioned why students and teachers could not be treated equally, stating, "As a parent, I believe it is my duty to provide my child with warm meals, and I find it hard to understand this situation."

Her comments sparked criticism online, with many netizens arguing that it was inappropriate to voice personal grievances in light of the tragic accident, which had resulted in the death of a delivery driver and injuries to another motorist. The sinkhole incident occurred on March 24, measuring 18 meters wide, 20 meters long, and 18 meters deep, leading to significant safety concerns in the area.