President Yoon Seok-yeol Criticizes Business Leaders' Trip to International Market
Assemblyman Jeong Seong-ho: "Dragging Large Corporations to Manage Public Sentiment"
Former lawmaker Hong Jung-wook mocked President Yoon Suk-yeol's visit to Busan International Market with major conglomerate heads on the 6th, saying, "There must have been a grand reason why they had to eat tteokbokki during these difficult times."
President Yoon Seok-yeol tasting street food at Busan Kkangtong Market with business leaders on the 6th [Photo by Yonhap News]
On the previous day, Hong posted on his social media, sharing a photo of President Yoon and the heads of major conglomerates sharing tteokbokki, fried snacks, and bindaetteok at a snack bar in Busan's representative traditional market, the International Market. He wrote, "I believe there must have been a clear and grand reason why the nation's leading businesspeople had to gather at the International Market to eat tteokbokki during this challenging time when they should be focusing on their core businesses."
This appears to be a criticism of President Yoon's so-called 'snack bar meeting' at the International Market, where he expressed a strong will for Busan's development while bringing along business leaders. The gathering included government officials and conglomerate heads such as Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong, SK Vice Chairman Choi Jae-won, LG Chairman Koo Kwang-mo, Hanwha Vice Chairman Kim Dong-kwan, HD Hyundai Vice Chairman Jung Ki-sun, Hyosung Chairman Cho Hyun-joon, Hanjin Chairman Cho Won-tae, and Korea Economic Association Chairman Ryu Jin.
After visiting the market, it is reported that President Yoon and the accompanying businesspeople had a pork soup lunch at a nearby restaurant. Some view this as the president's effort to soothe public sentiment following the failure to secure the 2030 World Expo (Expo) in Busan. Others criticize the move as excessive, pointing out the mobilization of conglomerate heads.
On the 7th, Democratic Party lawmaker Jung Sung-ho said on MBC Radio's 'Shin Jang-sik's News High Kick,' "The government misjudged the situation, leading to a crushing defeat. Over the past 17 months, how much hardship have the heads of major conglomerates endured following the president around?"
He continued, "Currently, the livelihood and economy are in a very difficult situation. The heads of companies play the most crucial role in economic recovery. When meeting with business officials, they say the heads are constantly abroad, unable to make decisions or work. The government has been continuously troubling major conglomerates, and now, to appease Busan's public sentiment, they dragged the conglomerate heads along. I hope they stop doing things like this."
Meanwhile, former lawmaker Hong was elected as a member of the National Assembly in the 18th general election in 2008, representing Seoul Nowon-byeong under the Grand National Party's nomination. After declaring he would not run in the 19th general election in 2012, he has been active as a businessman. Recently, there has been speculation within the ruling party that Hong might be put forward to capture votes from the metropolitan area and younger generations.
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