President's Office Lawn Invites Reporters
President Yoon Personally Cooks and Serves Food
Shares 'Yoon Seok-yeol Style Kimchi Jjigae' Recipe
President Yoon Suk-yeol is making rolled omelette at the dinner reception for the press corps invited to the "President's Evening Invitation" held on the lawn of the Yongsan Presidential Office building in Seoul on the 24th. [Image source=Yonhap News]
"The atmosphere is so good, I feel sorry for not doing this more often in advance. I will do it more often from now on."
President Yoon Suk-yeol invited about 200 reporters to the lawn yard of the Yongsan Presidential Office on the afternoon of the 24th and held a dinner event titled "The President's Evening Invitation." President Yoon personally grilled meat and served kimchi stew and rolled omelets to the reporters, actively engaging in communication.
During his transition period in March 2022, President Yoon met with reporters in a tent press room set up in front of the Presidential Transition Committee office and promised to cook kimchi stew after his inauguration. This promise was fulfilled about 2 years and 2 months later.
Yoon Cooks Rolled Omelet Himself... Reporters Exclaim
In his greeting, President Yoon said, "I probably promised you during my candidacy on a variety show called 'Master in the House' that I would serve rolled omelet and kimchi stew, but it has already been two years and I haven't done it yet. Today, there was a large quantity, so I couldn't do it myself, but I wrote down the recipe for our operations officer and told him to follow it." He added, "The weather is nice today, so I hope you relax a bit during the evening, have a comfortable chat, and enjoy yourselves."
On this day, President Yoon prepared food such as Korean beef, pork ribs, pork belly, and chicken skewers together with key aides including Chief Secretary Jeong Jin-seok, three secretaries, and seven senior secretaries. Wearing aprons, President Yoon and his aides grilled Korean beef and pork ribs on charcoal grills and served the meat to reporters.
In particular, President Yoon personally served kimchi stew made with his "Yoon Suk-yeol recipe" to the reporters. Kimchi stew is the dish President Yoon has said he is most confident in since his presidential candidacy. He also made rolled omelets in front of the reporters and distributed them. Pouring egg mixture into a heated frying pan and shaping it with spatulas held in both hands, he completed a high-level rolled omelet, drawing exclamations from the reporters watching on site.
President Yoon Suk-yeol is conversing with attendees at the dinner meeting for the press corps invited to the "President's Evening Invitation" held on the lawn of the Yongsan Presidential Office building in Seoul on the 24th. [Image source=Yonhap News]
It has been about a year since President Yoon dined with the press corps. This was the first time since he unexpectedly appeared at a luncheon event for reporters in the "Pine Grass" yard in front of the Presidential Office on May 2 last year.
The dinner with the press on this day is interpreted as an effort by President Yoon, now entering his third year in office, to strengthen communication. After the April 10 general election defeat, President Yoon pledged to strengthen communication, saying, "I will change first." He also held a press conference on his second anniversary in office on the 9th.
Yoon: "I Will Listen to Advice and Criticism and Manage State Affairs"
The dinner table was filled with food from all over the country, including Andong Korean beef, Wando abalone, Jangheung mushrooms, Muan onions, Gangwon potatoes, Jeju pork belly, rice from Icheon and Dangjin, Namdo napa kimchi, Yeosu Dolsan mustard kimchi, Mungyeong omija punch, Gyeongnam manggae rice cake, Seongju oriental melon, Gochang watermelon, and Yanggu melon.
In his closing remarks, President Yoon expressed regret for not creating more opportunities to communicate with reporters and promised to increase such opportunities in the future.
He also said, "Some have said that the media is uncomfortable from the perspective of the government or politicians. That is true, but without the media, there would be no leaders or politicians. Although we receive criticism and attacks from the media, ultimately, it is because of the media that I and all our politicians have come this far."
President Yoon said, "I promise once again to spend more time with you in closer spaces, listen to more advice and criticism, and manage state affairs accordingly."
President Yoon Suk-yeol is serving kimchi jjigae at the dinner reception for the press corps invited to the "President's Evening Invitation" held on the lawn of the Yongsan Presidential Office building in Seoul on the 24th. [Image source=Yonhap News]
After the meal, President Yoon went around each table and greeted all attendees individually. When reporters requested that he expand direct communication with the media, President Yoon responded, "I will create more opportunities." He also announced, "In line with the Yoon Suk-yeol administration's aim to become a 'global standard' pivotal nation, we will greatly expand government-supported overseas training programs for journalists."
About 200 reporters attended the dinner event. Key aides from the Presidential Office included Chief Secretary Jeong Jin-seok, Policy Chief Seong Tae-yoon, National Security Chief Jang Ho-jin, Political Affairs Senior Secretary Hong Cheol-ho, Public Relations Senior Secretary Lee Do-woon, Civil Affairs Senior Secretary Kim Joo-hyun, Civil Society Senior Secretary Jeon Gwang-sam, Economic Senior Secretary Park Chun-seop, Social Senior Secretary Jang Sang-yoon, and Science and Technology Senior Secretary Park Sang-wook.
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