President Yoon attends Opening Ceremony of Suncheon Bay International Garden Expo 2023

President Yoon Suk-yeol attended the opening ceremony of the 2023 Suncheon Bay International Garden Expo held on Friday, March 31 at the National Garden in Suncheon, Jeollanam-do, and emphasized the development of the local economy through the promotion of local tourism and expressed his special interest and commitment to the development of Honam.

In his opening remarks, Suncheon Mayor Roh Kwan-kyu thanked the president for looking at the difficulties large or small of Suncheon, such as “bypassing the light railway,” “gardening Green Island,” and “reviewing the inclusion of Dongcheon’s luxury river project.” 

Jeonnam Governor Kim Yong-rok also expressed his deep gratitude to the president and his wife, saying that with the special affection of the president, he was able to secure the growth engine that will lead Jeonnam for 100 years. 

Yoon said in his congratulatory speech, “The government will actively support domestic tourism so that the local economy can be revived. Leveraging the unique resources of each region—beautiful landscapes, cultural monuments, and distinctive cuisine—will boost local tourism and boost local economies as people gather and consume more. It is also in line with my philosophy of balanced regional development that regions find and nurture growth engines of comparative advantage on their own, and the central government supports them.”

Yoon said, “During my school years and public service, I often visited Suncheon and Jeonnam. As I started politics, I felt that the development of Honam is the development and well-being of Korea. We will take good care of Suncheon so that it becomes a key base for the development of the region and the Republic of Korea.”

In his welcoming remarks, the governor of Jeonnam Province said, “With today’s opportunity, we will raise the target for the number of tourists from 8 million to 10 million,” adding, “Once again, I thank the president.” 

President Yoon visits Daegu for ‘100th Anniversary of Seomun Market’

President Yoon Suk-yeol attended the “Daegu Seomun Market 100th Anniversary Celebration” on Saturday, April 1, welcoming the Daegu citizens who filled the market.

Yoon and First Lady greeted and shook hands with the Seomun Market merchants and Daegu citizens who welcomed them from the beginning of the market and moved to the venue.

In his congratulatory remarks, the president celebrated the 100th anniversary of Seomun Market, emphasizing that Seomun Market was always with the citizens in the midst of Daegu’s eventful history and silently supported the local economy even during the corona pandemic. 

He said he plans to cultivate traditional markets like Seomun Market as the center of the local economy and a place of history and culture. 

Market vendors thanked First Lady for keeping her promise to return to the market for the centennial event. In the performance that followed, a video of magnolias blooming was shown on the screen, and then the president’s handwritten message commemorating the 100th anniversary of Seomun Market (“100 Years of Proud History of Seomun Market with Daegu Citizens”) appeared on the screen. Yoon and First Lady toured the special photo exhibition commemorating the 100th anniversary of Seomun Market and paid tribute to the merchants of Seomun Market who stood firm in the past despite Korea’s economic and social changes.