How to check your child meal card balance
Balances are checked through the local government that issued the card and its card issuer. Gyeonggi lets you check on its website with the card number alone; Seoul and Incheon use dedicated apps.
As of 2026-08-27. Naviyam does not currently provide balance lookup directly; we guide you to the right channel for each card.
Lookup channel by region
| Region | Card name | Where to check |
|---|---|---|
| Seoul | Kkumnamu Card | Check the balance and history in the 'Seoul Kkumnamu Card' app. |
| Gyeonggi-do | G Dream Card (Ssiat Bapsang) | Use 'Check balance' on the Ssiat Bapsang homepage — the last 8 digits of the card number are enough, with no identity verification. Gyeonggi Ssiat Bapsang site |
| Incheon | Child Meal Card | Use the 'Incheon Child Meal Card' app or Shinhan SOL Pay. The Shinhan Card call center (1544-7000) can also help. |
| Gwangju | I-Kkum Card | Sign in on the Purmee Card site with the 16-digit card number and password to see usage and top-up history. Purmee Card site |
| Busan | Busan Child Meal Card | Register the card in the 'Busan Child Meal Card' app and verify by SMS to see the balance. The 16-digit card number also works. |
As of 2026-08-28 · Source: official notices from each local government and card issuer. Card names, operators, and lookup channels can change as local programs are revised.
For regions not listed, contact your local welfare office or the issuer's customer center on the back of the card. Applications can also be filed through Bokjiro. Lookup channels change as local programs are revised, so regions we could not verify are deliberately left out.
Apply for child meal support on BokjiroWhat to check at the same time
Carry-over rules differ by region
Some local governments carry unused monthly funds forward; others let them expire. It also depends on the top-up cycle, so check the rule where you live.
There is a per-payment limit
Even with a balance left, a payment above the per-transaction limit will fail. Check both the balance and the limit.
Vacation periods may add support
Some local governments increase support while school meals pause during vacation. Check your local notice.
If the balance will not display
First check that the card is registered in the lookup system. Most apps and sites require a one-time card registration, and skipping it means nothing shows even when the card works fine.
If it still fails after registration, the card number may be mistyped, the first top-up may not have happened yet, or the local government may have changed its lookup channel. At that point the issuer's customer centre is the fastest route.
If there is a balance but payment fails
There are usually three reasons: the store is not registered, the per-transaction limit was exceeded, or a restricted item was included in the purchase.
The limit sits separately from the balance, so a payment above it will fail even with plenty left. Splitting the purchase into smaller payments often resolves it.
FAQ
- Can I check the balance in the Naviyam app?
- Not at the moment — we guide you to the lookup channel for each card. You can order and pay with the meal card in the app.
- Do I need a password to check the balance?
- Identity verification is required on the issuer's app or website. The exact information needed varies by issuer.
- What happens to a balance I don't use?
- It depends on the region — some carry it forward, some let it expire. Expired amounts generally cannot be restored, so check your local rule in advance.
- What if I don't know the card number?
- Without the physical card, contact your local welfare office to request reissuance or confirm the details.
- Is a student meal card the same as a child meal card?
- No. The child meal card is local-government meal support for children at risk of missing meals; the student meal card is a separate education-office program for days without school meals. The lookup channels differ.