Communal Kitchens

[Anchor Lead]

As people get busier and the number of one-person households grows, it's become commonplace to see people eating alone. But even for those living alone it’s nice to have a meal together with someone else. More and more people are coming together in a communal kitchen to cook and eat together.

[Pkg]

Nine households live in this small neighborhood. Today, the Lee family's kitchen is bustling with activity.

[Soundbite] "Stir-fried kimchi and tofu~"

The neighborhood implemented a communal meal system and has been operating for a year now. It's a potluck meal where each family brings one dish to share with others. Sitting around a big table, they look like one big family. It's much nicer to dine together.

[Soundbite] Lee Ju-hee(Manager, Communal Kitchen) : "It would take all day for one person to cook all of this. But each person brings a dish, so we have a variety of food and I get to taste other people's dishes."

Also, eating with others motivates the young, finicky eaters to finish their meals clean. Every Tuesday this cafe turns into a communal kitchen for housewives. Members of this so-called "mom's meals" group cook and eat together. It also serves as a chance to socialize for moms tired of childcare and household chores.

[Soundbite] Bae Jeong-hyeon(Seoul Resident) : "Mothers neglect themselves by eating children's leftovers or what's left in the refrigerator. But this meal shared with others makes me feel like it's made just for me"

Communal meal groups are also sprouting up among the young people in their 20s and 30s. One example is this kitchen and dining room set up at a district office in Seoul. The group members each pitch in 5,000 won to buy food ingredients and cook together. They're young people living alone and tired of eating by themselves.

[Soundbite] Won Bo-ra(33-year-old) : "Cooking, talking, and eating together is the beginning of a warm-hearted community. It's nice to do something together."

There are 70 such communal meal programs operated by 25 districts in Seoul. This trend reflects the sentiment of those who long to share a hot meal with others.