The Seoul Metropolitan Council passed the 2011 municipal budget bill containing about 70 billion won (US$61.2 million) earmarked for free school meals.
In a plenary session held early Thursday morning, the council, controlled by members of the main opposition Democratic Party (DP), approved the capital city's yearly budget of 20.59 trillion won, which marked a reduction of 25.7 billion won from Mayor Oh Se-hoon's request.