"Yoon Erases, Leaving Only Chairman Lee Jae-yong" Cold Public Opinion Sparks Trace Removal Effort

Removing Photos and Handwritten Signatures
Also Erasing Names from Master Plaques

As the 'December 3 Emergency Martial Law Incident' extended into the impeachment crisis, efforts to erase traces of President Yoon Suk-yeol began across the country. Restaurants that prominently promoted the president's visits are removing signs and photos one after another.

President Yoon Suk-yeol and Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong are tasting street foods such as tteokbokki and mandu at Ggangtong Market in Jung-gu, Busan. Photo by the Presidential Office

Busan's Kkangtong Market, which President Yoon visited on December 6 last year as part of his livelihood campaign along with Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong and other business leaders, is no exception. The snack bar that gained attention for the president and business leaders eating tteokbokki together has also taken down all videos and photos of President Yoon that had been displayed, leaving only traces of Chairman Lee. The snack bar owner said, "So many people complained that we took them down," and added that they even put up a new photo of Chairman Lee alone.

Another merchant in Kkangtong Market said, "Before the martial law was declared, the video of President Yoon's visit was playing continuously," but "now that place has turned it off, and all the other places have turned theirs off too. It's because if people start arguing over it and raise their voices, it becomes awkward."

The situation is the same at a gukbap (soup with rice) restaurant in Busan, known as a favorite spot of President Yoon. While the chairs bearing the names of business leaders remain, the chair and photos where President Yoon sat have been removed. The gukbap restaurant owner said, "After the martial law, customers have been very vocal on both sides. There were even arguments among customers," and that conflicts have continued even after the chairs were removed. "Some say, 'You should keep your loyalty, why did you do that?' while others say, 'Good move removing them.'"

Master Ahn Yu-seong (above) featured in Netflix's 'Black and White Chef' and his master plaque. President Yoon's name appears as is. Photo by Netflix capture

Master chef Ahn Yu-seong, who gained attention by appearing on Netflix's 'Black and White Chef: Culinary Class War,' covered President Yoon Suk-yeol's name on the plaque of Korea's Master Chef after the December 3 Emergency Martial Law. Master Ahn was selected as a Korean Master Chef in September last year and received the plaque from President Yoon.