President Lee Jae Myung made back-to-back visits to traditional markets in two Korean cities on March 13 and 15, Cheong Wa Dae (CWD) announced over the weekend. The President reportedly stopped to check on consumer prices, hear from local merchants, and connect directly with citizens on the ground.

On the afternoon of March 13, President Lee visited Sachang Market in Cheongju, North Chungcheong Province — a market with deep historical roots, its name tracing back to the Joseon-era granaries once kept on the site. Having taken on the character of a modern comprehensive market in the 1980s, Sachang has served as an anchor of local commerce ever since.

Guided through the market by Merchants' Association Chairman Jang No-yong, President Lee greeted shoppers warmly and was received with applause and cheers. Merchants told him he was the first sitting president to visit Sachang Market, and several embraced him, urging him to build a better country and to take care of his health.

A highlight of the visit was a stop at a tofu shop, where President Lee observed the process of making tofu from domestically grown soybeans, then sat with the shop owners and the merchants' association chairman on a bench inside the store and sampled freshly made tofu. When he asked whether customers prefer domestic or imported soybean tofu, the shop owner replied that while domestic beans cost nearly twice as much, customers seeking Korean-grown produce far outnumber the rest — a point of pride for the shop.

The president also sampled the market's signature 1,000-won hotteok, remarking with a smile that it was a welcome price he hadn't come across in some time.

Merchants used the visit to raise a practical concern: as the use of Nuri Gift Vouchers continues to grow, they asked the president to support the expansion of digital Nuri vouchers as a way of injecting fresh energy into traditional markets. President Lee expressed his deep affection for traditional markets and pledged to monitor closely whether support measures are actually felt by merchants on the ground.

He concluded the visit with a lunch of barley rice, fresh kimchi of yeolmu radish sprouts, doenjang jjigae, and grilled mackerel — a modest, home-style meal that, he said, reflected his broader philosophy: just as merchants prosper when they serve customers with sincerity, a government that approaches its people with genuine commitment will inevitably earn their trust.

Two days later, following his attendance at the 66th Anniversary Commemoration of the March 15th Democratic Uprising in South Gyeongsang Province, President Lee made an unannounced visit to Bansong Market in Seongsan District, Changwon — this time accompanied by First Lady Kim Hye Kyung.

Bansong Market, which opened in 1988, has been a fixture of local daily life and is well known for its Galguksu Alley. President Lee had previously visited the market in March 2024, while serving as leader of the Democratic Party of Korea.

The couple's surprise appearance was met with cheers and applause. Merchants and residents called out messages of support — "Real Republic of Korea," "We love you," "We respect you," "We're rooting for you," "Stay healthy," and "You did so well on your overseas visit." When one citizen asked how the president had arrived so quickly after the morning ceremony, Lee quipped that he had "flown," drawing laughter from the crowd.

The presidential couple purchased strawberries, tomatoes, lettuce, herbs, and green onions using Nuri Gift Vouchers and cash. First Lady Kim, who has a keen interest in K-beauty, stopped at a cosmetics shop and picked up cotton pads and sheet masks. President Lee tried freshly made bungeo-ppang (fish-shaped pastry) and tteokbokki on the spot, declared them delicious, and told the vendor: "Start advertising now" — to the delight of the stall owner. The First Lady purchased kkwabaegi (twisted doughnuts) and shared them with the children who had gathered.

At a restaurant inside the market, President Lee ate kimchi-jjim and gyeran-mari for and spoke with Merchants' Association Chairman Jang about the market's history and recent sales conditions. The couple lingered at the restaurant entrance to shake hands and take photos with waiting citizens before departing for their next engagement.

(CWD Press Release translated by AI, edited by David Kendall)