The company said on Tuesday that it provides employees with vegetables, fruits, health foods and teas free of charge during a vegetable snack break every afternoon at 3.30.

The menu includes vegetables such as cucumbers, carrots and broccoli, fruits such as bananas, strawberries and melons, health foods such as roasted sweet potatoes, steamed potatoes and steamed pumpkins, and jujube and ginger tea.

"We've been implementing this new snack program on a trial basis since Feb. 11," the company said. "It has been very popular among our employees. Most of them enjoy their snack every day, except for those who have to work outside during the break."

Employees said they welcome the snack. "We can enjoy a snack without having to worry about our superiors. Before the snack program began, we used to appease our afternoon hunger with 'tteokbokki' (stir-fried rice pasta in chilli sauce), pork sausages, or coffee. But now we can eat more fresh vegetables, and, of course, less cookies."

SK C&C is the largest shareholder of SK Corp., SK Group's holding company.

(englishnews@chosun.com )