Perceptions of Traditional Korean Foods and Satisfaction Levels toward School Foodservice among Middle School Students and Parents of Schools Serving Traditional Korean Menus in Gyeonggi Province

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this study was to investigate perceptions of Korean foods and school foodservice satisfaction levels among middle school students as provided by a Korean menu-focused school foodservice. The study subjects included middle school freshmen attending a school providing Korean menus and their parents. A survey questionnaire was administered to obtain information on general characteristics, perceptions of traditional Korean foods, and degrees of satisfaction toward school foodservice. The student subjects had significantly lower interest and preference for traditional Korean foods and less positive perceptions of traditional Korean foods than the parent subjects. In regard to degrees of satisfaction for school foodservice, the students evaluated the current Korean menu-focused foodservice significantly higher than the previous foodservice provided to them during their elementary school days. The parent subjects' also generally reported very high satisfaction levels of the foodservice. The current study findings suggest there are positive effects of Korean-style school foodservice and support its further expansion to other schools. It is recommended that dietary education on the excellence of traditional Korean foods should accompany the provision of Korean-style foodservices in order to better guide adolescents' recognition of the matter.