Lee Myung-bak Visits Suwon Traditional Markets for Public Outreach

Lee Myung-bak, the Grand National Party's presidential candidate, visited Jidong Market and Yeongdong Market in Suwon on the 16th to assess the economic sentiment and gauge public sentiment at traditional markets ahead of Chuseok.

Arriving at the market shortly after noon, the candidate toured the shops and purchased approximately 80,000 won worth of items, including chicken gizzards, dried mullet, squid, apples, pears, yeolmu radish, eggplant, red pepper powder, and rice cakes, offering words of encouragement such as "don't charge too much" and "do good business."

Candidate Lee then joined party officials including Nam Kyung-pil, chair of the Gyeonggi Province party committee, Na Kyung-won, party spokesperson, and Suwon Mayor Kim Yong-seo, for lunch at a nearby shop where they had stir-fried sundae and soup before moving to Yeongdong Market to hold a "town meeting" with merchants.

At the event, he said, "With only a few days left until the Chuseok peak season, I came out to have a conversation with you," adding, "When I was young, I ran a small street stall in the countryside, and after coming to Seoul, I worked as a sanitation worker at Itaewon traditional market in the outskirts, so I have a special affection and attachment to this."

He further stated, "If our party takes power next year, the Grand National Party will implement special customized policies for small business owners, self-employed merchants, and traditional markets," and promised, "Once the administration changes, I will ensure that at least within one or two years, everything related to you can be accomplished."

Regarding the issue of credit card fees at individual establishments, he said, "Charging small business owners higher card fees makes no economic sense, and fees should be charged equally, whether at department stores or markets," and added, "If I become president, I intend to have discussions with card companies and persuade them to make fees uniform."

On the Capital Region Readjustment Planning Act, he stated, "Capital region regulations originally came from Japan, but as many companies are moving overseas, Japan has eased its regulations," and noted, "Since capital region deregulation triggers very sensitive reactions, it is difficult for me as a candidate ahead of the election to state this definitively. I will make my position clear after becoming president."

He added, "This Chuseok, Grand National Party members will conduct campaigns to visit traditional markets and self-employed merchants to purchase Chuseok items," and said, "If the opportunity arises in about a year, we will hold an after-service report meeting on what was discussed today."

Merchants drew attention by extending good wishes to the candidate, saying "please lead the country well if you become president," while not hesitating to voice "harsh criticism."

One merchant serving as chair of the Gyeonggi Province Merchants Association said, "It is said that during his tenure as Seoul mayor, he provided significant support to traditional markets, but merchants say they did not receive much support," and added, "While this candidate has drive in construction and similar projects, there is skepticism about whether he is sincere in revitalizing traditional markets."

Other criticisms were raised, including "our politics is no better than in the Liberal Party days," "won't today also end with just complaints and no results?," and "we cannot be helped by traditional markets through words alone."