President Lee Dismisses Opposition Claims of Election Interference

President Lee Jae-myung on May 28 dismissed claims of election interference from opposition parties, stating, "I have always enjoyed eating at markets, so I hope people can understand that."

During a senior secretary meeting that afternoon, President Lee noted, "I often have meals at markets after events, listening to various people's stories."

He has consistently visited traditional markets during regional schedules. Notably, on May 26, he had dinner at the Jagalchi Market in Busan, followed by lunch at the Namhang Market on May 27, where he enjoyed sashimi and soup.

In the meeting, President Lee instructed Kim Yong-beom, his policy chief, to oversee the modernization of traditional markets. He highlighted the need for improvements in facilities such as canopies and signage, diagnosing that the current structure, which requires merchants to bear some costs, hinders effective implementation of these projects.

Additionally, he called for the activation of an "online distribution platform" that connects traditional markets nationwide. He remarked, "These days, online transactions are prevalent, and traditional markets seem to be falling behind, which limits their revenue sources and causes difficulties." He added, "While this is just one approach, I hope all means are utilized to promote active distribution."

President Lee emphasized, "For traditional markets to thrive, local communities and regions must also prosper, which is essential for the country's overall well-being." He concluded by stating that balanced economic growth is only possible when all areas and sectors of society grow together.