President Lee Holds Surprise Lunch at Samcheong-dong Sujebi Restaurant... Blue House Says "To Encourage Local Merchants"

Lee Recalls, "I Ate a Lot of Sujebi in My Childhood"
Moves to Prime Minister's Residence for Tea Meeting After Lunch

President Lee Jae-myung is walking along Samcheong-dong street near the Blue House with Prime Minister Kim Minseok, Deputy Prime Minister Koo Yoonchul, National Security Office Director Wi Sungrak, and spokesperson Kang Yoojung after concluding the Cabinet meeting on the 30th. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

On the 30th, President Lee Jaemyung had a surprise lunch with his aides at a restaurant in Samcheong-dong near the Blue House. After the lunch, President Lee moved to the Prime Minister's official residence for a tea meeting.

Kang Yoojung, spokesperson for the Blue House, announced this at a briefing at Chunchugwan in the afternoon. The lunch took place after President Lee presided over his first Cabinet meeting at the Blue House. The venue was a famous handmade sujebi restaurant located about a 10-minute walk from Chunchugwan. According to spokesperson Kang, President Lee walked there himself and stood in line with citizens to enter the restaurant.

Attendees at the lunch included Prime Minister Kim Minseok, Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs Koo Yoonchul, Minister of Employment and Labor Kim Younghoon, Minister of Climate, Energy and Environment Kim Sunghwan, National Education Commission Chair Cha Jeongin, National Security Office Director Wi Sungrak, and Policy Office Director Kim Yongbeom. Once it became known that President Lee was visiting the sujebi restaurant, reporters covering the Blue House also came to the restaurant and dined together.

Spokesperson Kang relayed that President Lee reflected on his difficult and hungry childhood, saying, "When I was young, I often ate kalguksu and sujebi."

President Lee Jae-myung is having a tea meeting with the press corps at Samcheongdang within the Prime Minister's official residence on the 30th. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

After lunch, President Lee walked to the nearby Prime Minister's official residence, greeting citizens along the way. Spokesperson Kang explained that President Lee wished people "Happy New Year" and also agreed to requests for photos.

At the Prime Minister's residence, President Lee, his aides, and reporters had a tea meeting. When asked whether it was inconvenient to commute between the Hannam-dong official residence and the Blue House, President Lee replied, "There is no inconvenience. The Prime Minister's residence is really nice." Those present reportedly joked with Prime Minister Kim, saying, "You'd better take good care of the Prime Minister's residence."

Spokesperson Kang explained, "On the day after returning to the Blue House, President Lee went for a walk around the Samcheong-dong neighborhood and had a surprise lunch to encourage local merchants and greet residents in the area."