Yoon at Tent Press Room: "Let's Have a Cup of Coffee... I'll Cook Kimchi Jjigae When We Move to the New Building"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Ki-min Lee] "Let's have a cup of coffee."

President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol made a surprise visit on the morning of the 23rd to the 'tent press room' set up in front of the transition office in Tongui-dong, Jongno-gu, and had a 15-minute tea chat with reporters.

At around 10:53 a.m., as he arrived at the office, Yoon stopped by the press room and greeted, "We should create a better environment, but please try it first." Showing interest in the refrigerator and other items in the press room, he responded to a request for a tea time by saying on the spot, "Let's have a cup of coffee," and sat among the reporters holding a paper cup filled with roasted barley tea.

When asked by a reporter if he was keeping his promise not to eat alone ("honbap"), he said, "I eat alone in the morning. I eat with my dog. When I try to eat, he comes and watches me, so I share." Regarding his wife, Kim Geon-hee, he said, "My wife doesn't eat breakfast."

When asked about his statement that he would cook kimchi stew for reporters after his inauguration, Yoon replied, "Once the office is set up, I will cook a large amount at the cafeteria one evening and eat together."

Regarding the dog raised by President Moon Jae-in at the Blue House, Yoon said, "No matter how high the (national) leaders are, the owner who has been raising the dog should continue to do so," adding, "If the owner changes, the dog... Unlike ordinary animals, I think it is right for the owner who has been raising it to continue."

He continued, "If it is given to me, I will take good care of it," and said, "We should not think of animals from a human-centered perspective, and it is rather in line with the spirit of the gift that the owner who has shown affection should raise it."

Regarding his own pets, a dog and a cat, he mentioned, "I plan to take them to the official residence in Hannam-dong," and added, "If the move is delayed, I will have to raise them in Seocho-dong."

Yoon revealed with a smile that he still feels like he is in the middle of an election because he cannot sleep much due to habits formed during the campaign.

He laughed and said, "I have to do something in a dream-like place and respond here, but when I wake up, it's not an election."

Yoon promised to frequently visit the press room on the first floor once the move to the Ministry of National Defense building is completed. He also mentioned that former Presidents Kim Dae-jung and Roh Moo-hyun visited the press room more than 100 times during their five-year terms.

He said, "Former Presidents Kim and Roh visited the press room more than 100 times during their five-year terms. That's more than 20 times a year, about twice a month. Considering overseas trips, local trips, and emergencies, visiting twice a month is relatively frequent. I will also try to see reporters as much as possible."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.