President Lee ramps up market visits before holidays

Feb 12, 2026, 08:17 am

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President Lee Jae-myung and First Lady Kim Hye-kyung visit the “Just Dream” food support center at the Chungju Health and Welfare Town in North Chungcheong Province on Feb. 11 and speak with officials about its operations. / Yonhap News

President Lee Jae-myung visited Chungju in North Chungcheong Province on Feb. 11 to hear directly from citizens ahead of the Lunar New Year holiday and the June 3 local elections.

Accompanied by First Lady Kim Hye-kyung, a Chungju native, Lee toured Muhak Market to check seasonal prices and greet merchants. He later visited the Chungju Health and Welfare Town to inspect the “Just Dream” program, which provides free food and daily necessities to low-income residents. The president also stopped by the Chungbuk Comprehensive Welfare Center for the Disabled to review job training facilities for people with disabilities.

The visit follows Lee’s appearance on Feb. 9 at Tongin Market near the presidential office, where he shared a bowl of ox-head soup and listened to vendors’ concerns — part of a series of public livelihood-focused engagements in the lead-up to the holidays and local elections.

At Muhak Market, Lee spent about 90 minutes meeting citizens and offering New Year’s greetings. As Kim selected goods, Lee asked merchants, “How is business?” and “With the holiday approaching, how are things?”

The presidential couple purchased items including deodeok root, dried pollack, spinach, persimmons and peeled chestnuts, paying with Onnuri gift certificates and cash, according to deputy spokesperson Ahn Gwi-ryeong.

One vendor, after making a sale of deodeok to the president, remarked, “Thanks to you, I’ve made my first sale of the day. I think business will go well today,” drawing smiles from those nearby. Other merchants thanked Lee for “giving us strength” and acknowledged the challenges he faces.

After having lunch with market association head Kim Byung-ho and presidential staff at a local eatery, Lee visited the Just Dream corner within the nearby welfare complex.

Lee has repeatedly stressed that “no citizen should suffer from hunger” and that the government must ensure the provision of basic food supplies. The Just Dream initiative allows anyone in need to receive food and essential goods immediately. Currently, 107 pilot centers are operating nationwide, with the Chungju site ranking among the top five in performance among local governments.

Speaking to Lee Kwang-hoon, head of the Chungju Just Dream center, the president emphasized that the program should be accessible to anyone who visits, not just local residents.

“This is not simply a welfare project,” Lee said. “It’s about ensuring that no one goes hungry — that no one ends up in jail for stealing eggs. Make sure the guidelines are clear so that anyone who is hungry can receive help.”

Lee’s recent outreach underscores his administration’s focus on everyday economic concerns as political attention turns toward the upcoming local elections.

#Lee Jae-myung #Kim Hye-kyung #Lunar New Year #local elections