Yoon Volunteers Serving 'Kimchi Jjigae' at Myeongdong Eatery After One and a Half Years

Third Time Following Meal Service Volunteering During President-Elect Period and Early Inauguration

President Yoon Suk-yeol volunteered in meal service at Myeongdong Bapjip, a free meal center inside Myeongdong Cathedral in Seoul, on the 27th. It has been about a year and six months since President Yoon last volunteered at Myeongdong Cathedral.

According to the presidential office, President Yoon visited Myeongdong Bapjip that morning to carry out free meal service volunteer work and encouraged the volunteers. Myeongdong Bapjip is a free meal center that shares warm meals with marginalized neighbors such as homeless people and elderly living alone every Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday. Since its opening in January 2021, about 750 people have been served meals daily (on weekdays), and more than 300,000 people had visited by the end of last year.

Previously, when he was president-elect in March 2022, President Yoon also volunteered in meal service at Myeongdong Bapjip in September of the same year after his inauguration.

On that day, starting from 10:30 a.m., President Yoon personally prepared ingredients such as green onions and onions and cooked pork kimchi stew to prepare lunch. During the meal service volunteer work in September 2022, President Yoon also personally cooked kimchi stew and served meals.

President Yoon Suk-yeol is greeting citizens at Myeongdong Bapjip, a free meal center inside Myeongdong Cathedral in Jung-gu, Seoul, on September 9, 2022. [Image source=Yonhap News]

He served the completed food to homeless people and elderly visitors at the meal center, offered additional meals on trays to those who wanted more food, and exchanged greetings with them.

After finishing the volunteer work, President Yoon expressed his gratitude to the volunteers and Myeongdong Bapjip staff, and the presidential office donated 2 tons of rice to Myeongdong Bapjip.

President Yoon’s visit to Myeongdong Bapjip follows his hosting of public livelihood forums since early this year and repeated visits to traditional markets, as part of his efforts to address public welfare issues on the ground. However, his visit to Myeongdong Bapjip one day before the official start of the general election campaign period is also interpreted as an intention to rebuild a pro-people image and boost approval ratings.

A presidential office official explained, "Consistent free meal volunteer activities are in line with the president’s usual philosophy and will to strengthen social solidarity and contribute to creating a warm society by entering welfare sites through continuous volunteer work."