President Lee and First Lady Visit Namgwangju Market, Listen to Citizens Where Memories of May 18 Remain

Visit to Traditional Market After Touring Former Jeonnam Provincial Government Hall

Handshakes and Photos with Merchants

Lunch of Dried Pollack with Radish Greens Set Meal

On the 18th, President Lee Jae-myung and First Lady Kim Hye-kyung attended the 46th Anniversary Commemoration Ceremony of the May 18 Democratic Movement and toured the former South Jeolla Provincial Government Exhibition Hall, after which they visited Namgwangju Market in Dong-gu, Gwangju to meet with citizens and merchants. Their visit was intended to share the painful memories of Gwangju’s traditional market, which retains the legacy of May 18, with citizens, and to listen directly to the voices of merchants struggling with the economic downturn.

President Lee Jae-myung and First Lady Kim Hye-kyung are leading the singing of the March for the Beloved at the 46th Anniversary Commemoration Ceremony of the May 18 Democratic Movement held on the 18th at the Gwangju May 18 Democratic Square.
Photo by Cheongwadae Press Corps, Yonhap News Agency

In a written briefing on the same day, Deputy Spokesperson An Gwi-ryeong of the Blue House stated that the President and First Lady visited Namgwangju Market, listened to the voices of citizens and merchants, and had lunch together. Namgwangju Market is a traditional marketplace that developed around the old Namgwangju Station. It is known as a place where seafood from the southwestern coast gathers every morning and served as a historic site where citizens and merchants shared hardship during the May 18 Democratic Movement.

First Lady Kim has a previous connection with Namgwangju Market, having visited ahead of the 2017 presidential election. Merchants and citizens greeted the arrival of the President and First Lady with welcomes such as, “It’s good to see you,” “Please give us a handshake for strength,” and “You are doing an excellent job.” The President and First Lady walked slowly through the market, shaking hands with citizens and responding to requests for photos.

Throughout the market, citizens continued to offer greetings linked to May 18. One citizen showed the President a photo taken with her son and the President during the eve festival of the May 18 Democratic Movement on May 17, 2022, saying, “My son, who is at school, will be disappointed he could not meet you today.” President Lee responded with a smile and sent his regards.

President Lee Jae-myung and First Lady Kim Hye-kyung are visiting Namgwangju Market in Dong-gu, Gwangju, on the 18th and taking commemorative photos with citizens. (Photo by the Blue House) Yonhap News Agency

There were also conversations recalling the solidarity among merchants during May 18. One merchant said, “My mother made rice balls and barley tea for citizens during May 18,” and added, “She would have been delighted to see you today.” According to Deputy Spokesperson An, the President and First Lady expressed their gratitude and reflected on the meaning of solidarity and dedication shown by citizens and merchants at the time.

The President visited seafood stalls inside the market, engaging in casual conversations with merchants. When President Lee asked, “What is this?” the merchants explained, “It’s eel and snakehead fish.” The President also inquired about the recent economic situation, listening to the voices on the ground.

As the First Lady passed by a hanbok shop in the market, she expressed her pleasure. The Blue House explained that First Lady Kim has a particular affection for hanbok. The merchants thanked her, saying, “Thank you for visiting again.”

The President and First Lady purchased Bukkumi (a type of rice cake) and massagers known as Hyojasun at the market. They then had lunch at a restaurant inside the market, enjoying a set meal with dried pollack and seasoned vegetable stew. During the meal, President Lee asked Son Seung-gi, the head of the merchants’ association who joined for lunch, about the operation of the stores and the atmosphere of the business district, inquiring into the local economy.

Citizens continued to see the President and First Lady off until the moment they left the market. Citizens encouraged them with words such as, “Stay strong,” and “Stay healthy,” and requests for handshakes and photos continued. The President and First Lady responded by waving until the very end.

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