"President Offers Chuseok Gifts Carrots"... Attempts to Sell Before Receiving Them

Used Goods Trading Platform Sees Transactions in the 170,000 to 300,000 Won Range

President Yoon Suk-yeol and First Lady Kim Geon-hee's Chuseok gift sets, sent to national merit recipients and individuals dedicated to the development of the nation and society, have appeared on secondhand trading platforms.

On the 29th, multiple listings titled "President Yoon Suk-yeol Chuseok Gift Set" were posted on secondhand trading platforms such as Danggeun Market and Bunge Market. The price range was set between 170,000 and 300,000 KRW.

Earlier, the Presidential Office delivered gift sets to various figures for the Chuseok holiday, including ▲gochujang from Sunchang, Jeonbuk ▲tangerine salt from Seogwipo, Jeju ▲doenjang from Yangpyeong, Gyeonggi ▲sesame oil from Yecheon, Gyeongbuk ▲soy sauce from Yeongwol, Gangwon ▲perilla oil from Taean, Chungnam.

When presenting the Chuseok gifts, President Yoon and the First Lady included a card that read, "A bright full moon rises over the autumn fields that have endured heat and rain. The government will carefully ensure that our economy recovers and warmth spreads throughout society. We will look only to the people. We wish you a happy and fulfilling Chuseok."

Photo by the Office of the President [Image source=Yonhap News]

One seller introduced the product, saying, "It arrived on September 21. It is completely unopened, and only the address, name, and contact information were erased," adding, "If you cover the erased part with a sticker bearing the recipient's name, they will like it as a gift."

There were even attempts to trade before receiving the gift. On the 21st, a post titled "I will sell the President's Chuseok gift" was uploaded on Danggeun Market. The price was set at 300,000 KRW. The seller explained, "The items are undecided as it hasn't arrived yet," "If you purchase now, it can be delivered to your home," and "I will change the delivery address and send it to you."

In response, some criticized, saying, "Isn't it inappropriate to receive the President's Chuseok gift prepared with tax money and resell it for personal profit?"

Earlier this year in January, the Chuseok gift sets sent by President Yoon for his first Lunar New Year after taking office were also listed on secondhand trading platforms. At that time, sellers offered President Yoon's gift sets for around 200,000 to 300,000 KRW.

The trading of presidential holiday gifts on secondhand markets is a recurring phenomenon. Ahead of last year's Lunar New Year holiday, former President Moon Jae-in's final Lunar New Year gift box was traded on the secondhand market for up to 300,000 KRW. The contents included local specialties such as Munbaeju or honey from Gimpo, plum extract from Gwangyang, Jeonnam, omija syrup from Mungyeong, Gyeongbuk, and chestnuts from Buyeo, Chungnam, along with a New Year's card.

The card contained President Moon's messages: "In my final year in office, I will cherish each day as I return to the people and wrap up state affairs," and "Despite difficulties, we have achieved much. In the new year, we will leap high like a tiger."