President's Office invites reporters to the lawn
President Yoon personally cooks and serves food
Also shares 'Yoon Seok-yeol style Kimchi Jjigae' recipe
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]
"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 Seok-yeol, marking his third year in office, hosted a dinner event titled "The President's Evening Invitation" on the afternoon of the 24th at 6 p.m. in the lawn yard of the Yongsan Presidential Office, inviting about 200 reporters. 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 promised reporters at the tent press room set up in front of the Presidential Transition Committee office that he would cook kimchi stew after taking office. 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, the quantity was large, so I couldn't do it myself, but I wrote down the recipe for our operations manager and told him to follow it." He added, "The weather is nice today, so I hope you relax, unwind a bit during the evening, chat comfortably, and enjoy yourselves."
On this day, President Yoon prepared food such as Korean beef (Hanwoo), pork ribs, pork belly, and chicken skewers himself along with key aides including Chief Secretary Jeong Jin-seok and seven senior secretaries. Wearing aprons, President Yoon and his aides grilled the meat on charcoal grills and served it to the reporters.
In particular, President Yoon personally served kimchi stew made with his "Yoon Seok-yeol recipe" to the reporters. Kimchi stew is a dish President Yoon has said he is most confident in since his presidential candidacy. He also made rolled omelets in front of the reporters. Pouring egg mixture into a heated frying pan and shaping it with spatulas in both hands, he completed a high-level rolled omelet, drawing exclamations from the reporters watching on site.
President Yoon Suk-yeol is making a rolled omelette at the 'President's Dinner Invitation' dinner meeting with the press corps held on the lawn of the Yongsan Presidential Office building in Seoul on the 24th. [Image source=Yonhap News]
This was the first time in about a year that President Yoon dined together with the press corps. It was the first time since he unexpectedly appeared at a luncheon event for reporters on May 2 last year in the 'Pine Grass' yard in front of the Presidential Office.
The dinner with the press was interpreted as an effort by President Yoon, now in his third year in office, to strengthen communication. After the crushing defeat in the April 10 general election, President Yoon pledged to strengthen communication, saying, "I will change first." On the 9th, he held a press conference for his second anniversary in office, stating, "I will communicate more frequently with the media and explain and help the public understand through the media."
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 Hanwoo beef, Wando abalone, Jangheung mushrooms, Muan onions, Gangwon potatoes, Jeju pork belly, rice from Icheon and Dangjin, Namdo cabbage kimchi, Yeosu Dolsan mustard kimchi, Mungyeong omija punch, Gyeongnam manggae rice cake, Seongju oriental melons, Gochang watermelons, and Yanggu melons. No alcohol was served.
President Yoon Suk-yeol is speaking at the 'President's Dinner Invitation' press corps dinner meeting held on the lawn of the Yongsan Presidential Office building in Seoul on the 24th. [Image source=Yonhap News]
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. "Looking at the clock now, we started at 6 p.m., but it is actually only 8 p.m. Two hours really passed quickly," he said. "I will narrow the distance with you and spend more time together."
He added, "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. Even though we receive criticism and attacks from the media, ultimately, it is because of the media that I and all 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."
Yoon: "Low Birthrate Must Be Improved at a Revolutionary Level"
During the meal with reporters, President Yoon reiterated his determination to resolve the low birthrate issue. He emphasized, "The low birthrate must be improved at a revolutionary level," and pledged to ensure that no one refrains from having children due to financial difficulties.
When a pregnant reporter spoke on behalf of others, saying, "My dream is to have a third child," and "I hope effective measures will allow the baby in my womb to have a sibling," President Yoon responded, "That really wakes me up."
He explained, "Pension, labor, education, healthcare, and low birthrate are the five core tasks, and especially the low birthrate must be improved at a revolutionary level. In a way, the low birthrate is the most critical issue connecting all other tasks." He added, "For example, medical reform is all connected to the low birthrate issue. A well-established essential pediatric medical system is necessary so that people can feel secure in having and raising children."
President Yoon emphasized that the current government advocates state responsibility to prevent situations where people cannot have or raise children due to financial difficulties.
President Yoon Suk-yeol is conversing with attendees 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]
President Yoon also announced plans to further strengthen communication with the media. He said, "Doorstepping ended regrettably, and I felt it was not efficient in fulfilling the public's right to know. I considered that it might be better to hold one or two national briefings on specific issues each month. I will communicate frequently with reporters going forward."
He continued, "Having spent my entire public service career in an atmosphere of frequent communication with the media, I have never rejected or felt uncomfortable with the media. The relationship between the public service community and the media seems to have become rigid at some point, but let's meet often from now on," he added.
He also mentioned that the government is making considerable efforts to achieve diplomatic successes. President Yoon said, "Diplomacy, security, and supply chain issues are very important for the country's future. I want to think together with reporters about the country's future as much as domestic politics. Sometimes I feel regretful that reporters' attention is focused only on domestic political issues."
After the meal, President Yoon went around each table and greeted all attendees individually. When reporters requested, "Please expand direct communication with the media," President Yoon responded, "I will create more opportunities." He also announced, "In line with the Yoon Seok-yeol administration's aim to be a 'global standard' pivotal country, we will greatly expand overseas training programs for journalists supported by the government."
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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