President Lee Checks Consumer Prices at Changwon Market... Tastes Fish-Shaped Buns and Tteokbokki

Visit to Traditional Market After March 15 Uprising Anniversary Ceremony

President Lee Jae-myung and First Lady Kim Hye-kyung attended the 66th anniversary ceremony of the March 15 Uprising held in Changwon, Gyeongnam Province, on the 15th. Afterwards, they visited the nearby Bansong Market, a traditional market in Changwon, to check consumer prices and speak with merchants.

President Lee Jae-myung and First Lady Kim Hye-kyung are tasting carp-shaped bread at Bansong Market in Seongsan District, Changwon City, Gyeongsangnam-do on the 15th. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

Bansong Market, which opened in 1988, is widely known as the "Kalguksu Alley" (Knife-Cut Noodle Alley). According to Deputy Spokesperson Ahn Gwi-ryeong of the Presidential Office in a written briefing, President Lee also visited this market in March 2024, when he was the leader of the Democratic Party of Korea.

When President Lee appeared at the market, merchants and local residents welcomed him with applause and cheers. In response, President Lee and the First Lady shook hands and exchanged high-fives with the crowd. Deputy Spokesperson Ahn mentioned that the President also bent down to greet some children at eye level.

When a citizen said, "I just saw you on TV at the March 15 Uprising ceremony -- how did you get here so quickly?" President Lee replied with a joke, saying, "I flew here," eliciting laughter.

President Lee and the First Lady purchased strawberries, tomatoes, lettuce, wild greens, and green onions using Onnuri gift certificates. First Lady Kim stopped by a cosmetics shop to buy items such as face masks. President Lee also tasted fish-shaped buns and tteokbokki on the spot, commenting, "It's delicious," while First Lady Kim bought twisted doughnuts and shared them with children.

Afterwards, President Lee and the First Lady had lunch with merchants at a restaurant inside the market, sharing kimchi stew and rolled omelet. During the meal, the President listened to voices from the field, asking the merchants' association president about recent sales trends.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.