President Yoon visits Busan International Market, pledges to "nurture Busan"

BAfter attending the 'Dreams and Challenges of Busan Citizens' meeting in Busan on December 6, Yoon visited Gukje Market, a representative traditional market in Busan, to communicate with citizens and encourage merchants. He shook hands with citizens who chanted his name and welcomed him, saying, "Take care of yourself" and "I'll take care of Busan," and then toured several stores, guided by Lee Sang-woo, chairman of the International Market Prosperity Committee, and Park Yi-hyun, chairman of the Bupyeong Canton Market Merchants Association. The merchants thanked the president and his entourage with a paper that read "Thank you for the 2030 Expo," and the president promised the market merchants that he would "nurture Busan" and "develop Busan further. “I will develop Busan by attracting foreign investment companies to the Expo exhibition hall site. I will create jobs for young people so that they can settle down in Busan.” said Yoon.

He stopped by a snack bar in the market and ate tteokbokki, bindaetteok, and mixed noodles with Busan Mayor Park Hyeong-jun, Chairman Lee Jae-yong, Executive Vice Chairman Choi Jae-won, Chairman Koo Kwang-mo, and Vice Chairman Kim Dong-kwan, who accompanied him. Yoon went on to stop by a bakery run by a young entrepreneur to encourage the owner and his staff, writing, "The most wonderful thing in the world is the challenge and courage of youth. You have my full support." 

President Yoon and First Lady attend national unity kimchi event, reaffirming the spirit of national unity, regional harmony, and sharing

On November 27, Yoon and the First Lady attended the "National Unified Kimchi Event for Sharing and Service" at Kintex in Ilsan, Korea, where they encouraged volunteers and made kimchi for the local underprivileged. At the event, 243 local governments, five provincial councils, and people from all walks of life from across the country gathered ingredients from  Paju cabbage, Uisheng garlic, Goshan chili powder, etc. to make kimchi, reaffirming the spirit of national unity, regional harmony, and sharing.

"Kimchi is a combination of various ingredients and spices, and it is eaten after aging, so we gathered pickled cabbage and various spices from all over the country. The most important thing in society is the warmth and care for our neighbors. I hope that through this event, we can become a more caring and warm society." said Yoon. The event was attended by nearly 2,000 young people, seniors, foreign workers, North Korean refugees, multicultural students, and volunteers from 243 local governments across the country, including U.S. Ambassador to Korea Philip Goldberg, Ryu Jin-jin, President of the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Lee Sang-min, Minister of Public Safety and Security, and Chung Hwang-geun, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. A total of 172,000 kg of kimchi (25,000 kg from Kintex, 75,000 kg from the city and province, and 72,000 kg from the city, county, and district) will be distributed to the underprivileged through charity organizations.