This study was conducted to investigate whether there were differences in eco-friendly food, home meal replacement (HMR) purchases, and eating-out behavior according to the level of agri-food consumer competence. The data for the study were extracted from main food consumers (n=3,321) in the 2022 Food Consumption Behavior Survey. The competence index was divided into awareness-attitude-practice items, and three groups were classified by competence level. The results showed an agri-food consumer competency score of 70.62, with the highest score for awareness (73.96), followed by practice (69.28) and attitude (66.18). The frequency of purchasing eco-friendly food was higher in the excellent group compared to other groups, and quality and price satisfaction was higher with higher competency (p<0.001). Regarding HMR, the results showed that the shortage group had the lowest HMR consumption rate, and satisfaction decreased as competence decreased (p<0.001). The main reason for eating-out was to enjoy food in all groups (59.0%), followed by a lack of cooking time in the excellent group (15.7%) and hassle with food preparation in the moderate and shortage groups (17.3%, 16.6%) (p<0.001). In short, agri-food consumption competency showed differences by contents and components, and differences in food purchases and eating-out behavior by competency level were found.

In this research, we examined the shifts in determinants influencing the frequency of eco-friendly food purchases pre- and post-COVID-19. Our analysis utilized filtered 2019-2021 Consumption Behavior Survey data from the Korea Rural Economic Institute Food, excluding any irrational responses. Given the nature of the dependent variable, a multinomial logistic regression model was employed with demographic factors, variables pertaining to food consumption behavior, and variables concerning food consumption awareness as predictors. Following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, an individual's level of education was observed to positively influence the frequency of eco-friendly food purchases. In contrast, income level and fluctuations in food consumption expenditure did not appear to have a discernible impact on the purchasing frequency of such eco-friendly products. Irrespective of the advent of COVID-19, variables such as the frequency of online food purchases, the utilization of early morning delivery services, dining out frequency, and the intake of health-functional foods consistently demonstrated a positive correlation with the propensity to purchase eco-friendly foods. Overall, consumers prioritizing safety, quality, and nutrition over price, taste, and convenience in their procurement decisions for rice, vegetables, meat, and processed foods exhibit an increased inclination toward the acquisition of eco-friendly food products.

This study investigated the effect of offering eco-friendly fashion items on consumers’ perceived image of stores and their intention to purchase food in a hybrid cafe setting. The data were collected using an online survey of 465 adults aged 20 to 49 years. In order to compare ‘a general cafe’ where only food is sold and ‘a hybrid cafe’ which offers eco-friendly fashion items as well as food, we developed two store types (general×hybrid) with two store designs (modern×eco-friendly) as stimuli, resulting in four scenarios. The results indicated that offering eco-friendly fashion items at a cafe did not significantly affect consumers’ perceived eco-friendly image of the store. Further, this negatively affected consumers’ perceived healthy and tasty images of the store and intention to purchase food. Such negative effects on the healthy and tasty images of the store increased in the store with a modern design. In conclusion, offering eco-friendly fashion items at cafes may not contribute to enhancing the stores’ images or sales.

This study aims at developing for food education textbook and teaching aids of elementary school students and teaching guide book (of food exerts) for eco-friendly food education together with green growth to standardize food education and to make the best the effect of food education. Especially we will develope active food education program to which elementary school students study through developing various education textbook and teaching aids. Major contents of food education textbook in this study are classified as two subjects. First included the understanding of eco-friendly agricultural products, to distinguish the indication of eco-friendly agricultural products, merits of school feeding made by eco-friendly agricultural products. Second is about children loving earth to understand food mileage. Its contents are as follows ; the definition of food mileage, the movement of food mileage to report environment, origin mark of agricultural products, our mental attitude for our favorite agricultural products, the eco-friendly agricultural products of Gyeonggi Province

This study aimed to analyze socioeconomic effect of eco-friendly free school food supply system by Seoul, which has been consistently extended since 2011. To do so, effect of eco-friendly free school food supply system on the beneficiaries, Seoul citizens, was analyzed by using ‘labor & income panel’, while that on rural society was analyzed by using the surveys on the eco-friendly agricultural product supply performance by the ‘Eco-friendly Agricultural Products Retail Center’ as well as for students, school parents, nutrition teachers and nutritionists. The results of analysis showed that eco-friendly school food supply system contributes to income redistribution among the Seoul citizens to a certain extent, provides the eco-friendly agricultural product producers in the rural society with the stable market, and positively influences them to secure stable incomes. In addition, eco-friendly free school food reduced the amount of carbon emissions through the use of environmentally friendly agricultural products resulting in environmental improvements and economic benefits. Considering such effects, free school food supply using the eco-friendly agricultural products needs to be consistently maintained in the future without politic change by political ideology and to be extended to middle school level in medium and short-term.