Encouraging COVID-19 Affected Merchants by Purchasing Pears, Strawberries, Green Onions... Visiting Kalguksu Restaurant Visited by Confirmed Case to Offer Comfort
[Asia Economy Reporter Ryu Jeong-min] "I want to buy one batch of pears from Eumseong. If you have Eumseong pears, I will buy them." "Please calculate it. Also buy strawberries." On the afternoon of the 18th, First Lady Kim Jung-sook, wife of President Moon Jae-in, visited Dongwon Traditional Market in Myeonmok-dong, Jungnang-gu, Seoul, to encourage the merchants. While purchasing necessary items such as pears and strawberries, Mrs. Kim comforted the merchants who have been struggling since the outbreak of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
Chef Lee Yeon-bok and Chef Park Jun-woo accompanied her on this visit to Dongwon Market. While buying 40kg of honey, Mrs. Kim said to the merchant, "You still say it's difficult, right?" The merchant replied, "Thank you very much. Thank you. There are no people. Still, we are doing our best." Mrs. Kim paid for the honey with Onnuri gift certificates contained in Nonghyup bags.
When Chef Lee Yeon-bok showed interest in seaweed, Mrs. Kim said, "I should buy seaweed too," expressing her intention to purchase. The merchants also took photos with Mrs. Kim and Chefs Lee Yeon-bok and Park Jun-woo.
At the green onion store, Mrs. Kim asked, "Because of COVID-19, the market has been depressed, so how is the business going?" The merchant explained, "It was bad at first, but these days it has improved a lot."
Chef Lee Yeon-bok was asked to explain about green onions and said, "‘Parasite’ won an award, right? I made a lot of ‘Jjapaguri’. But since the sirloin there is expensive, I stir-fry pork neck with lots of green onions and then make Jjapaguri, and it’s really delicious." Chef Park Jun-woo explained, "You can use green onions instead of onions. Both are crops that bring out sweetness."
Baek Nam-yong, chairman of the merchants' association, said, "The problem with the coronavirus is fake news. Please block fake news, Mrs. Kim Jung-sook." He added, "There are about 3,500 floating population in Dongwon Market, but it seems to have decreased by about 2,000 because of news spreading that you might get infected with coronavirus if you go to Dongwon Market."
Chairman Baek added, "The Ministry of SMEs and Startups has sent hand sanitizers and masks, Seoul City has also sent hand sanitizers and masks, and the district office chief has been sending them as well, and thorough disinfection is being done, so things are stabilizing."
Mrs. Kim said, "When they say someone is a confirmed patient, the store has to close, so I thought about how angry and upset the merchants must have been."
Mrs. Kim added, "Earlier, you said it was fake news. So, because of avoidance, it feels like being isolated, business doesn’t go well, and I thought about how hard these feelings must be. Honestly, I felt sorry coming to and from the market."
Chairman Baek suggested a commemorative photo to signify that the knife-cut noodle restaurant is safe. Mrs. Kim said, "Even though a confirmed patient visited, once disinfected, it’s over. So today, I also want to go to the knife-cut noodle restaurant, eat noodles, give comfort, receive comfort, and say let’s overcome this well."
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