Squid Sashimi Accident 'High Five'... Yoon Visits Tongyeong Jungang Market on First Day of Vacation

Wearing Navy Short-Sleeve T-Shirt, Walked Around Tongyeong Market for an Hour
Record Heatwave, Ordered Relevant Departments to Check Countermeasures
Stayed One Day at Military Facility, Encouraged Officers and Non-Commissioned Officers

President Yoon Seok-yeol, who is on summer vacation, is visiting Tongyeong Central Market in Tongyeong City, Gyeongnam, on the 5th, engaging in conversations with merchants.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

President Yoon Suk-yeol visited Tongyeong Central Market in Gyeongnam on the afternoon of the 5th, the first day of his vacation, to meet with citizens. President Yoon personally purchased squid and other items while conversing with merchants, and he also visited a store run by the uncle of soccer player Kim Min-jae, where they exchanged high-fives.

According to a written briefing by Presidential Spokesperson Jung Hye-jun, President Yoon met with Tongyeong Central Market merchants for about an hour starting at 4:30 p.m., with a minimized entourage. The president wore a navy short-sleeved navy T-shirt with "KOREA NAVY" written on the back.

Upon the president's arrival at the market, many merchants and citizens welcomed him by chanting "We love you" and "Yoon Suk-yeol." In response to the cheers, President Yoon expressed his gratitude, saying, "Have you been managing well in the heat?" and "Please stay healthy."

This visit marked President Yoon's first time at Tongyeong Market in one year and five months since attending the 12th Fisheries Day ceremony last March.

Tongyeong Central Market is the largest seafood market on the southern coast, with over 300 stores in operation. Nearby attractions include Dongpirang Mural Village, known as the 'Montmartre Hill' of the East, the Turtle Ship commemorating Admiral Yi Sun-sin, and the Gangguan Cultural Square, attracting an average of 8,000 customers and tourists daily.

President Yoon toured dozens of stores, shaking hands and encouraging each merchant. The merchants expressed their support, saying, "Thank you for coming on such a hot day."

One merchant waved a campaign flyer from when Yoon was a presidential candidate, saying, "Yoon Suk-yeol, raised by the people," and shouted "Fighting!" Some merchants even showed consideration by fanning the sweating president from a distance, according to the presidential office.

President Yoon Seok-yeol, who is on summer vacation, is greeting citizens on the 5th at Tongyeong Jungang Market in Tongyeong City, Gyeongnam. [Image source=Yonhap News]

On that day, President Yoon personally purchased various seafood and dried goods, including squid, barley shrimp, and dried monkfish strips.

At the store run by soccer player Kim Min-jae's uncle, after buying squid sashimi, he exchanged high-fives and cheered, saying, "Please feed (Kim Min-jae) lots of good food."

He also sat side by side at a stall with a merchant who has sold semi-dried fish at Tongyeong Central Market for 50 years, discussing the types of semi-dried fish and cooking methods. He instructed his aides to "buy generously." At another store, he purchased natural hemp nets and a back scratcher, holding hands and saying, "Stay healthy, elders."

Spokesperson Jung explained, "President Yoon gladly responded to requests from market merchants who wanted to take photos, repeatedly expressing gratitude for the warm welcome, and took pictures one by one with families and couples who came on vacation from all over the country, including Daegu, Seoul, and Gwangju."

President Yoon stayed overnight at a nearby military facility and plans to encourage military officers and non-commissioned officers the following day.

As he departed for his vacation spot that day, President Yoon urged related ministries to "re-examine measures for vulnerable groups such as the elderly and to thoroughly manage field workers in construction, delivery, and agriculture to prevent damage," in light of the recent record-breaking heatwave.

He also instructed, "Please carefully monitor supply and demand situations, including crop conditions in production areas, to prevent any issues with the supply of agricultural and marine products."