President Lee's Surprise Visit to Namdaemun Market: "I Remember Enjoying Jokbal While Preparing for the Bar Exam"

Checking Traditional Market Conditions and Influx of Foreign Tourists
Merchants Say "Steady Overseas Demand for K-Fashion and Accessories"
Purchasing Goods with Onnuri Gift Certificates and Lunch at a Jokbal Restaurant
"Hearing Directly fro

President Lee Jae-myung and First Lady Kim Hye-kyung made a surprise visit to Namdaemun Market in Seoul on May 8, encouraging small business owners and assessing the state of the traditional market economy and the influx of foreign tourists.

President Lee Jae-myung and First Lady Kim Hye-kyung are eating hotteok at Namdaemun Market in Seoul on the 8th. (Provided by the Blue House) Yonhap News Agency

According to a written briefing by Ahn Gwi-ryeong, Deputy Spokesperson of the Blue House, the presidential couple visited Namdaemun Market in Jung-gu, Seoul, after attending the 54th Parents' Day ceremony earlier that morning.

As President Lee and the First Lady entered the market, citizens greeted them with cheers such as "Nice to meet you," "Stay strong," "Today is really my lucky day," and "Please take a photo with us." Foreign tourists from countries including Malaysia also showed interest, capturing photos and videos on their mobile phones.

President Lee shook hands and exchanged high-fives with citizens, asking, "Have you had your meal?" He bent down to greet young children at eye level and remarked to young people holding carnations, "The flowers are really beautiful." He also responded to citizens waving from afar with a finger heart gesture.

President Lee asked market vendors if their businesses were doing well and listened to their opinions. Some vendors stated, "Although the overall economy is difficult, the increase in foreign tourists is bringing back some of the market's former vibrancy," and "We need more support so that even more foreign tourists can visit."

First Lady Kim also greeted vendors, saying, "I used to come to the children's clothing section at Namdaemun Market quite often," and added, "Returning after so long, I can still feel the market's lively and familiar atmosphere."

The presidential couple purchased items such as hats, eyeglass straps, and dumplings using Onnuri gift certificates and cash. They continued to engage in candid conversations with citizens while taking photos together.

Afterward, the couple had lunch at a jokbal (braised pig's trotters) restaurant inside Namdaemun Market. President Lee recalled, "I remember coming to Namdaemun Market and enjoying jokbal back when I was preparing for the bar exam."

Mun Nam-yeop, the head of the Namdaemun Market Merchants Association, joined them for lunch. President Lee asked Mun about the market atmosphere and the status of facility improvements, and listened to the concerns of the vendors.

President Lee Jae-myung and First Lady Kim Hye-kyung are dining at a restaurant in Namdaemun Market, Seoul, on the 8th. (Provided by the Blue House) Photo by Yonhap News Agency

Following lunch, the presidential couple visited Section C of Namdaemun Market to browse various shops. First Lady Kim looked at hairpins, earrings, and necklaces, and purchased some items.

Vendors explained to President Lee, "Overseas demand for K-fashion and K-accessories continues to grow steadily, to the point where export volumes now account for a significant portion of sales."

Citizens continued to see the couple off as they left the market, offering words of encouragement such as "Please make this a country where children can live happily," and "Always stay healthy." President Lee and the First Lady waved in response.

The Blue House explained that the purpose of the visit was "to encourage small business owners facing difficulties due to economic contraction caused by issues such as the Middle East crisis, to hear directly from those on the ground, and to review measures for boosting tourism and revitalizing traditional markets in response to the recent rise in demand from foreign tourists visiting Korea."

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