[Yongsan Report] Why Yoon's 'Love for the Market'... 7 Visits in 48 Days

This Year's Government Operation Goal 'Minsheng' Confirmed On Site

"Everything I like is here."

On the afternoon of the 13th, President Yoon Seok-yeol visited a seafood store at Samcheonpo Yonggung Fish Market in Sacheon, Gyeongnam, expressing interest by saying, "I like clams. Small scallops are delicious. They are softer than the big ones." He selected and purchased various products such as dried filefish, dried anglerfish, sea cucumbers, and sea squirts. On the 21st of last month at Ulsan Sinjeong Shopping Market and on the 26th at Seosan Dongbu Traditional Market in Chungnam, President Yoon also bought all the remaining products from elderly female vendors selling corn and wild greens, telling them, "You should go home early."

President Yoon, who presides over public livelihood forums across the country, has been visiting traditional markets in each region without fail. Since the public livelihood forum held in Uijeongbu on January 25th, he has visited markets a total of seven times over 48 days until the 13th of this month. This means he visits a traditional market once a week. It appears to be an effort to demonstrate on-site his goal of focusing this year's government administration on the people's livelihood. The number of market visits this year is unprecedented. The last market visit last year was on December 6th, when he visited Busan International Market with business leaders.

An aide who accompanied him to the traditional markets said they were surprised that President Yoon not only knew about the products sold in the markets but also understood the differences in dishes served at each restaurant. The aide said, "During lunch at a restaurant in the market, President Yoon compared the cooking style of the restaurant next door, which was closed that day, with the one we were at, revealing how often he had visited the market in the past."

President Yoon, who showed strength in traditional market campaigns during his presidential candidacy, is not only boosting his confidence in government administration through his visits to traditional markets this year but also helping to create momentum for regaining approval ratings, according to views inside and outside the presidential office. Recently, President Yoon has maintained solid support, especially among full-time housewives. According to a survey conducted by Gallup Korea from the 12th to the 14th targeting 1,002 adults nationwide aged 18 and over (telephone interviewer survey (CATI) method, 95% confidence level, sampling error ±3.1 percentage points; for details, see the Central Election Survey Deliberation Commission website), positive evaluations among full-time housewives were high at 49%. A presidential office official said, "President Yoon's visits to markets will continue steadily."