President Lee and First Lady Dine on Seafood and Sashimi at Jagalchi Market in Busan

Purchased Wild Sea Pineapples, Shrimp, and More at the Market

Senior Presidential Spokesperson Kang Yoo-jung announced in a written briefing that President Lee Jae-myung and First Lady Kim Hye-kyung visited Jagalchi Market in Busan on the evening of the 26th, where they continued their efforts to communicate directly with merchants and citizens.

President Lee Jae-myung is greeting the crew members of the Shin Chae-ho submarine at the Naval Submarine Command in Jinhae, Changwon City, Gyeongnam Province on May 26, 2026. May 26, 2026. [Courtesy of the Blue House. Redistribution and DB prohibited] Yonhap News Agency

Earlier that afternoon, President Lee presided over a meeting of the Future National Defense Strategy Committee in Jinhae District, Changwon City, Gyeongnam Province, and visited the Shin Chae-ho submarine, a key asset of the South Korean Navy. Afterward, he traveled to Busan.

At the market, President Lee greeted citizens and merchants by waving his hand, and the citizens warmly welcomed the presidential couple, responding with, "We love you."

President Lee and the First Lady toured the various market stalls, personally purchasing seafood such as wild sea pineapples, spear squid, cuttlefish, tiger shrimp, sea cucumbers, wild abalone, and Dokdo shrimp using Onnuri gift certificates. First Lady Kim Hye-kyung tasted a Dokdo shrimp prepared by a merchant and commented, "It's delicious."

Throughout Jagalchi Market, citizens called out to the presidential couple with requests such as, "Thank you for your hard work," "Please take a photo with me," and "May I shake your hand?" President Lee and the First Lady responded enthusiastically, taking selfies and photos with the citizens. One merchant remarked, "I washed my hands and waited just to shake your hand."

As the couple approached the stairs leading to the second-floor restaurants, waiting citizens chanted "Lee Jae-myung." One merchant called out to the First Lady, saying, "You are so beautiful," and "Please give lots of support to Jagalchi Market." When the presidential couple went up to the second floor, diners stood up to shake hands with President Lee, with some joyfully exclaiming, "I shook hands with the President!"

President Lee and the First Lady had dinner with their aides at Kidari Restaurant on the second floor, enjoying the seafood and sashimi they had purchased from the first-floor shops. President Lee praised the taste of the wild abalone from the first floor and encouraged his aides to try it. The head of the market association, seated across from the President, noted that the number of foreign tourists visiting Busan, including Chinese tourists, is increasing and bringing renewed vitality to the market, but also mentioned the ongoing difficulties and requested support and attention, to which President Lee expressed his understanding.

Even during dinner, citizens continued to visit the presidential couple. Citizens dining in the restaurant area, as well as tourists from Bundang visiting Busan, greeted President Lee and the First Lady. Foreign tourists at Jagalchi Market also greeted the couple and asked to take photos together. After finishing dinner with their aides, President Lee and the First Lady personally greeted the many citizens waiting around the restaurant before departing.

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