'Here and There in a Flash'... Yoon's All-Out Effort for Public Sentiment During Chuseok Holiday

President Yoon Visits Free Meal Centers, Markets, and Military Units During the Holiday

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Ki-min Lee] President Yoon Seok-yeol, who focused all efforts on personnel reshuffling at the presidential office and responding to the 11th typhoon 'Hinnamnor', continued his on-site visits during the Chuseok holiday, including 'free meal events', 'Tongin Market', and 'visits to comfort military personnel'. President Yoon plans to continue personally visiting and encouraging marginalized groups and those fulfilling social duties.

According to the presidential office on the 12th, President Yoon has been heading to the field daily since before the Chuseok holiday, aiming to restore livelihoods and support the welfare of the vulnerable.

Earlier, in his Chuseok message on the 8th, President Yoon emphasized welfare for the voiceless vulnerable by stating, "We will create a society that warmly embraces the suffering common people and socially disadvantaged."

On the first day of the holiday, the 9th, President Yoon's first schedule was to visit Myeongdong Bapjip, a free meal center inside Myeongdong Cathedral in Seoul, where he personally cooked kimchi stew. At this event, President Yoon said, "We will implement welfare policies that support those truly in need, not welfare aimed at gaining votes but welfare that stands by those who cannot vote."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

After volunteering at the meal service, President Yoon met merchants at Tongin Market in Jongno-gu, Seoul. He stopped by a mill and mentioned that he visited the market recalling the difficult stories he heard from merchants at a market in Pohang damaged by the typhoon on the 7th. At the market entrance, President Yoon also promised, "We will take responsibility for people's livelihoods."

Upon hearing the news of Queen Elizabeth II's passing, President Yoon personally visited the British Embassy residence in Jung-gu, Seoul, to express his condolences.

On Chuseok day, President Yoon visited the Air Defense Battalion under the Capital Defense Command, shared lunch with soldiers, and expressed gratitude through video calls with soldiers' parents. In the afternoon, he held video calls at the Yongsan Presidential Office National Crisis Management Center with commanders of four overseas dispatch units: Hanbit Unit (South Sudan), Dongmyeong Unit (Lebanon), Cheonghae Unit (Oman Sea), and Ark Unit (UAE).

After evaluating the operations and contributions carried out by each dispatched unit commander on site, President Yoon said, "I hope each dispatched soldier performs their duties with the special mindset that they represent our country," and promised, "As the commander-in-chief, I will carefully ensure that your dedication and hard work receive proper treatment."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

This is interpreted as President Yoon putting into practice his usual conviction of 'not putting on a show' and 'walking with the vulnerable' through words and actions, aiming to differentiate himself from previous administrations. Although President Yoon's approval rating for state affairs management fell to 20% and then rebounded since mid-August, the presidential office officials say there is an atmosphere of not aiming for a rapid increase in approval ratings.

An official from the presidential office said, "While approval ratings for state affairs management are certainly important, there is an atmosphere of not making reckless statements or policies just to raise ratings," adding, "It is more important that the president leads by example and that the people recognize this, rather than simply focusing on approval rating figures."

Meanwhile, as President Yoon is known to attend the United Nations (UN) General Assembly held in mid-October, it is expected that his efforts toward peace on the Korean Peninsula and economic security will resume after the Chuseok holiday.

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