President Lee Jae-myung visited Sachang Market in Cheongju, North Chungcheong Province, on Tuesday to engage with merchants and residents and assess conditions on the ground.
According to a written briefing from Jeon Eun-su, deputy spokesperson for the presidential office, Lee toured the market with guidance from the merchants' association chief. At a tofu shop, he observed the production process and sampled fresh tofu. When asked about customer preferences between domestic and imported soybeans, the owner said, "Domestic soybeans are nearly twice as expensive, but far more customers seek out our local produce." Tasting the market's signature 1,000-won ($0.70) hotteok, Lee remarked, "It's a welcome price I haven't seen in a long time."
Merchants requested support for traditional markets through expanded use of digital Onnuri gift certificates. Lee responded, "I will pay close attention to ensure merchants receive tangible support they can actually feel."
Lee then joined merchants for lunch at a restaurant in the market, sharing barley rice, young radish kimchi, soybean paste stew, and grilled mackerel. "Sincerity always gets through in business, and the government's sincerity will surely reach the people as well," he said. Merchants greeted him with applause, noting he was "the first president to visit Sachang Market."
Later that day, Lee attended a town hall meeting with North Chungcheong Province residents, addressing regional depopulation and overcrowding in the Seoul metropolitan area. "Balanced development is not simply a matter of equity but a strategy for national survival," he said. "We must change the reality where jobs are scarce and life is inconvenient simply because of where you live."
He cited rising housing costs, inflation, regional hollowing-out, and weakening industrial competitiveness as consequences of excessive concentration in the capital region.
"We must mobilize all national capabilities to place industries and businesses in regional areas and create conditions where people can live with hope in the places where they were born," Lee said.