"Every Time They Are Dragged Out... Are Chaebols Just Backgrounds? Look at Their Expressions"

Political Reactions to President Yoon and Business Leaders' Trip to Gukje Market

President Yoon Suk-yeol's 'snack bar meeting' with heads of major conglomerates at a traditional market in Busan on the 6th has sparked heated reactions in the political sphere. The opposition expressed strong resentment over the mobilization of the conglomerate leaders, while the ruling party showed trust, believing there was a purpose behind it.

President Yoon Suk-yeol is tasting tteokbokki, fried snacks, and bindaetteok with business leaders at Ggangtong Market in Jung-gu, Busan on the 6th. From the right: Koo Kwang-mo, Chairman of LG Group; President Yoon; Park Hyung-joon, Mayor of Busan; Lee Jae-yong, Chairman of Samsung Electronics; Cho Hyun-joon, Chairman of Hyosung Group.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

On the afternoon of the 8th, Jeon Jae-su, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, appeared on CBS's 'Park Jae-hong's One-on-One Battle' and said, "Seeing the chaebol heads lined up like a backdrop behind, eating tteokbokki and fish cakes, the sentiment in Busan is boiling over." He linked this to the failure to secure the 2030 World Expo in Busan on the 6th and the recent event.

Jeon criticized, "It was as if the criticism was being divided among the business leaders who had run alongside the president, splitting it N ways," adding, "It was a scene where they tried to share the criticism among themselves."

He continued, "Look at the expressions of LG, Hyundai, Samsung executives. Were they cheerful?" and fiercely condemned, "South Korea is neither an underdeveloped African country nor a dictatorship, so I cannot help but say this is very disappointing."

He also claimed, "When meeting executives in the business world, they say that since President Yoon took office, almost every time he goes abroad about once a month, they say he is being 'dragged out'."

President Yoon Suk-yeol is tasting tteokbokki and other street foods with business leaders including Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong at Ggangtong Market in Jung-gu, Busan on the 6th.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

Jeong Seong-ho, also from the Democratic Party of Korea, expressed a similar view. On the 7th, appearing on MBC Radio's 'Shin Jang-sik's News High Kick,' he said, "The heads of companies play the most important role in economic recovery, but when meeting business officials, they say the heads are constantly abroad, unable to make decisions or work," adding, "They have been harassing large corporations continuously, and now they dragged the conglomerate heads to Busan to appease public sentiment. I hope they stop doing this."

He added, "The president always talks about free market economy and should let the heads work. I hope he thinks about how to dedicate efforts to the economy together with businesspeople."

On the other hand, the ruling party expected that President Yoon had a purpose. Yoon Sang-hyun, a member of the People Power Party who appeared on the same program, analyzed, "A week after the apology, President Yoon went to Busan and said he would develop it as a southern hub city, with the slogan 'Busan is beginning,' and promised to push forward projects like the Gadeokdo New Airport, Busan North Port redevelopment, and the relocation of the Korea Development Bank," adding, "This will show the government's strong will and have some effect in calming public sentiment."

Hong Jung-wook, a former lawmaker from the ruling party, also wrote on Facebook on the 7th, "I believe there must have been a grand reason why the nation's leading businesspeople had to gather at the international market and eat tteokbokki during this difficult time when they should be focusing on their core businesses."

Earlier, on the 6th, President Yoon visited Busan with chaebol heads including Lee Jae-yong, chairman of Samsung Electronics, and Koo Kwang-mo, chairman of LG Group. After attending the 'Busan Citizens' Dreams and Challenges Encouragement Meeting' held at the Busan Port International Exhibition & Convention Center, he moved to Kkangtong Market in Jung-gu, Busan, where he tasted tteokbokki and dumplings at a snack bar and listened to the sentiments of Busan citizens.