President Lee Chooses Sneakers Over Dress Shoes
Italian Luxury Brand Hogan Model Priced at 750,000 Won
The sneakers worn by President Lee Jae-myung during his visit to Japan have become a hot topic online. It has been reported that President Lee borrowed the sneakers from a staff member while carrying out his schedule. As there is a precedent of sneakers worn by President Lee during his presidential campaign selling out, there is growing interest in whether this pair will also cause another sell-out frenzy.
President Lee Jae-myung and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi are taking a commemorative photo on the 14th at Horyuji Temple, a representative cultural heritage site in Nara Prefecture, Japan. The sneakers President Lee wore that day are the "Hyperlight Sneakers" model from the Italian luxury brand HOGAN. Photo by Yonhap News Agency
On the afternoon of the 14th, President Lee visited Horyuji Temple, a prominent cultural heritage site in Nara Prefecture, together with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. While Prime Minister Takaichi wore a suit and dress shoes, President Lee appeared in a dark navy suit paired with sneakers, presenting a "business casual" look.
President Lee's Luxury Brand Sneakers Draw Attention... "Borrowed from Secretary"
The sneakers President Lee wore are the "Hyperlight Sneakers" model from the Italian luxury brand HOGAN. The official retail price is 750,000 won according to the brand's website. HOGAN is a brand operated by the Italian luxury group Tod's.
It was reported that these sneakers did not belong to President Lee but were borrowed on-site from a staff member. A Blue House official explained that the staff had not prepared separate sneakers in advance, so President Lee ended up borrowing a pair from his secretary. It appears that, upon noticing the gravel at Horyuji Temple, President Lee's aides recommended he wear sneakers for the occasion.
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi also showed interest in President Lee's sneakers during the visit to Horyuji Temple. Pointing to President Lee's sneakers, she joked, "It would have been nice if you had worn those yesterday as well."
Last Year’s Reebok Sneakers Sell-Out Resurfaces
President Lee also attracted attention last May at the presidential candidate kickoff event by wearing Reebok sneakers mixed with blue and red colors. The sneakers have the phrase "From now on, the real Republic of Korea" attached. Photo by Yonhap News Agency
Previously, at the presidential candidate kickoff event in May last year, President Lee attracted attention by wearing Reebok sneakers in a mix of blue and red colors. The product worn at the time was the Reebok Classic Leather "GY1522" model.
The official price was 89,000 won, but it was being sold at a discounted price of 35,600 won at official stores as part of a clearance sale. After news broke that President Lee had worn the sneakers, they sold out within a day. Subsequently, on some resale platforms, the sneakers were traded at prices around 340,000 won, nearly ten times the discounted price.
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