By Lee Jon-young

President Yoon Suk-yeol and First Lady Kim Keon-hee made a surprise visit to the Paldo Market, which is open for Chuseok at Yongsan Children's Garden on the morning of September 24.

Adults shopping for holy items at the market and children playing on the lawn were delighted to see them. The president and his wife took photos with each child who visited the market with their parents and wished them a happy holiday.

The President and his wife first visited the booths for traditional games such as tteokmechigi and tuho and enjoyed traditional games with the children, asking them if they often come to Yongsan Children's Garden and how they are spending this holiday.

The President couple then visited the Win-Win Booth, where large and small businesses collaborate to create successful startups, and encouraged young merchants. The President heard how Yeoju Rice Macaroons, developed by a young local creator from Yeoju, are made, and he also tasted the Okcheon Pumpkin Latte and Princess Chestnut Latte, developed by Starbucks in collaboration with small businesses.

The President and his wife then moved on to a market selling local agricultural specialties, where they purchased a variety of Chuseok specialties from across the country, including Gangwon Hwangtaepo, Chungju peaches, Sangju dried persimmons, Wando abalone, and Jeju sweetfish.

At the Jeollanam-do Fishermen's Association booth, the president encouraged the local merchants, saying, "Wando has become richer with the full-scale production of seaweed and abalone." No Dong-jin, chairman of the Federation of Fisheries Cooperatives, expressed his gratitude, saying, "Sales have increased a lot since the president visited the Noryangjin Fish Market," while Lee Jae-sik, vice chairman of the Nonghyup Central Association, said, "In addition to seafood, fruits such as apples and meat are also selling well ahead of Chuseok."

Meanwhile, the children who visited the garden showed a lot of interest in the photo zone of the presidential office model on the lawn and took commemorative photos. The President and his wife also visited the photo zone and took commemorative photos with the children, giving them memories they will never forget.

The President and Mrs. Moon then moved on to the food market, where they chatted with three elementary school-aged twins and their mother, who live in Gaepo-dong, while eating simple holiday foods such as Gwangjang Market bindaetteok, songpyeon, and sikhye. During the meal, children from the neighborhood approached the President and his wife to say hello and pet their dogs, Sarom and Sunny.

As the President left the market, he extended his holiday greetings, saying, "I hope this Chuseok will be a warm and generous holiday for all Koreans." The market visitors cheered the President and his wife as they left, saying, "Cheers, Mr. President! Cheers!" 

The Yongsan Children's Garden Chuseok Market was held for three days from September 22 to 24 so that people could enjoy the Yongsan Children's Garden and purchase holiday souvenirs at low prices, and more than 8,500 people visited and had a great time during the event.