Photo Credit: NEWS1 Gachon University has been selected nationally as one of the 1,000 won Store Business target Universities for the first time. With the inflation rate rising, undergraduates feel financially burdened. According to the ‘Consumer Price Trends for August 2025’ released by Statistics Korea, the consumer price index rose 1.7% compared to the same month last year. Costs in various areas related to students’ daily life, such as subway fare in the Seoul capital area and food expenses, are soaring. Gachon University launched the Gyeonggi-do University Student 1,000 won Store Project on June 9. Students can purchase 4 items for 1,000 won. The types of items include instant rice, cup noodles, shampoo, and so on. Modeled after Gyeonggi-do’s “1,000 Won Breakfast” program, the project aims to ease students’ daily living expenses by offering necessities at highly discounted prices. The store operates thanks to corporate participation in ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) Management. Corporations donate items to the Food Bank, and then the university can offer them at a discount of up to 90% or more. Furthermore, NH Nonghyup Bank Gyeonggi Branch’s full donation makes business operation possible. At the opening ceremony, President Lee Gil-yea and the Gyeonggi Province Governor came to the ‘1,000 won store’ and talked with students. Students waiting to buy these items say, “Although living in a high price period, we are so grateful that we can buy daily necessities for only 1,000 won.” The store will operate from September to December, serving approximately 13,000 current students. “1,000 won store” will be operated each week on Tuesday and Thursday from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. in the Global Campus Student Center. “This project not only provides affordable products but also offers practical welfare and support for students,” said Yoon Won-joong, Gachon University’s vice president. “If continued, it has the potential to develop into a long-term policy that helps close welfare gaps and gives students hope.”