[Anchor]

When looking for a quick meal or snack, many people often turn to instant or convenience foods at convenience stores. However, convenience stores are now placing health-focused foods front and center.

Reporter Jung Hyo-jung from KNN.

[Reporter]

Elementary school students rush into a convenience store after finishing their after-school classes.

On a hungry afternoon, most of their snacks are sweet and salty chips.

[Jeon Yu-jin / 6th grade, Yulha Elementary School, Gimhae: I usually eat a lot of instant noodles, snacks, and things like that.]

Parents cannot help but worry first.

[Kim Young-kyung / Mugye-dong, Gimhae: Triangle kimbap or ramen... the kids tend to choose a lot of stimulating foods...]

Actual surveys also show that the proportion of adolescents consuming fast food three or more times a week has increased by more than 10 percent over six years.

The proportion of those consuming sugary drinks has also increased by 10 percent.

To change this situation, the "Healthy Food" initiative was launched at convenience stores in March of this year.

Products reduced in sodium and sugar, as well as high-protein foods, are gathered and placed in prominent positions.

The so-called "golden zone" is about 1 meter high starting from the bottom of the display shelf.

Healthy foods are placed in this spot so that children can easily find them.

With this change, consumer choices are also shifting.

[Kim Mi-jin / Convenience Store Owner: At first, customers bought a lot of simple convenience meals, but now I think they are choosing a lot of fruits and high-protein foods as well.]

Knowing that the food catching their eyes first also takes care of health naturally draws their hands toward those options.

[Ryu Ha-rin / Naeseo-eup, Changwon: Because of health and diet, I look for items with the healthy food label attached. It has low sugar and low sodium...]

Currently implemented in 303 stores nationwide, including 9 stores in Busan and Gyeongnam, there are plans to gradually expand the initiative.

[Kim Na-young / Dietary Life and Nutrition Safety Policy Division, Ministry of Food and Drug Safety: By categorizing and displaying products that help promote a healthy diet, we expect to encourage consumers to make healthier choices when they are eating anyway.]

In a busy modern society, attention is focused on how much change this attempt to combine convenience store food with health will bring to consumer choices.

(Video by Ahn Myung-hwan, KNN)

Jung Hyo-jung, KNN