President Lee and First Lady Visit Namgwangju Market, Listen to Citizens Where Memories of May 18 Remain

Visit to Traditional Market After Touring Former Jeonnam Provincial Government Hall

Handshakes and Photos with Merchants

Lunch of Dried Pollack with Radish Greens Set Meal

After attending the 46th Anniversary Memorial Ceremony of the May 18 Democratic Movement and visiting the exhibition hall at the former South Jeolla Provincial Government building on the 18th, President Lee Jae-myung and First Lady Kim Hye-kyung visited Namgwangju Market in Dong-gu, Gwangju, where they met with citizens and merchants. This visit aimed to share memories of the May 18 Democratic Movement with citizens at a traditional market in Gwangju, a city still marked by those memories, and to hear firsthand from merchants who are struggling amid the ongoing economic downturn.

President Lee Jae-myung and First Lady Kim Hye-kyung are leading the singing of the March for the Beloved at the 46th Anniversary Commemoration Ceremony of the May 18 Democratic Movement held on the 18th at the Gwangju May 18 Democratic Square.
Photo by Cheongwadae Press Corps, Yonhap News Agency

Cheong Wa Dae Deputy Spokesperson An Gui-ryeong stated in a written briefing that President Lee and the First Lady visited Namgwangju Market, listened to the voices of citizens and merchants, and had lunch together. Namgwangju Market is a traditional market that developed around the old Namgwangju Station. It is known as a place where fresh seafood from the southwest coast is gathered every dawn, and it also holds historical significance as a space where citizens and merchants shared pain during the May 18 Democratic Movement.

First Lady Kim previously visited Namgwangju Market ahead of the 2017 presidential election. When the presidential couple arrived, merchants and citizens welcomed them with greetings such as "Nice to meet you," "Please shake my hand for encouragement," and "You are doing a great job." President Lee and the First Lady walked slowly through the market, shaking hands with citizens and responding to requests for photos.

Throughout the market, citizens continued to greet the couple, referencing the May 18 events. One citizen showed President Lee a photo taken with her son during the eve festival of the May 18 Democratic Movement on May 17, 2022, and said, "My son, who is at school, will be disappointed not to see you today." President Lee smiled and sent his regards.

President Lee Jae-myung and First Lady Kim Hye-kyung are visiting Namgwangju Market in Dong-gu, Gwangju, on the 18th and taking commemorative photos with citizens. (Photo by the Blue House) Yonhap News Agency

There were also conversations recalling the solidarity among merchants during the May 18 period. One merchant said, "My mother made rice balls and barley tea for citizens during May 18," adding, "She would have been very happy to see you, Mr. President, today." According to Deputy Spokesperson An, President Lee and the First Lady expressed their gratitude and reflected on the meaning of solidarity and dedication shown by citizens and merchants at that time.

President Lee also toured the seafood shops in the market, engaging in candid conversations with the merchants. When he asked, "What is this?" the merchants replied, "It's eel and snakehead fish." President Lee asked about the current economic situation and listened to the voices from the scene.

The First Lady greeted a merchant in front of a hanbok shop inside the market. Cheong Wa Dae explained that Mrs. Kim has a special fondness for hanbok. Merchants thanked her for visiting the market again.

President Lee and the First Lady purchased bukkumi and back scratchers at the market. They then had lunch at a restaurant inside the market, choosing a dried pollack and radish greens set menu. During the meal, President Lee asked Son Seunggi, head of the merchants' association, about the operation of the shops and the local business atmosphere, checking on the state of the local economy.

Even as the presidential couple was leaving the market, citizens continued to send them off with encouragements such as "Stay strong" and "Stay healthy," along with requests for handshakes and photographs. President Lee and the First Lady waved until the very end in response.

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