President Lee Jae-myung visited Sachang Market in Cheongju, North Chungcheong Province, on Tuesday to assess conditions on the ground.
Guided by the market's merchant association chief, Lee toured various sections and greeted citizens. Merchants expressed their appreciation, calling him "the first president to visit Sachang Market," according to Blue House Deputy Spokesperson Jeon Eun-su.
Lee stopped at a tofu shop and asked about customer preferences between tofu made from domestic and imported soybeans. The vendor replied that domestic soybeans cost nearly twice as much, but far more customers choose Korean-grown products.
The president also sampled the market's signature 1,000-won ($0.70) hotteok, a Korean sweet pancake, and smiled as he remarked it was "a welcome price I haven't seen in a long time."
Merchants urged the government to promote digital Onnuri gift certificates to inject new vitality into traditional markets. Lee pledged to ensure tangible support that vendors can feel.
Lee then had lunch at a restaurant in the market, dining on barley rice, young radish kimchi, soybean paste stew, and grilled mackerel. He told merchants that "sincerity always wins in business," adding that just as vendors thrive when they serve customers with genuine hearts, he believes the government's sincerity toward the people will also be felt.