Lee Jae-myung's Meal

Representative Lee Jae-myung, communication with citizens at Yangdong Market

On the morning of September 2, 2022, Lee Jae-myung, the leader of the Democratic Party, visited Yangdong Market located in Gwangju's Seo-gu and had a meal at a local soup restaurant. This restaurant is known to be a place where former President Roh Moo-hyun stopped by during his presidential campaign in 2002, and it has since become a symbolic location for Democratic Party figures. During his visit, Lee Jae-myung dined at the seat where former President Roh once sat and engaged in conversations with the merchants. He shook hands with each merchant as he walked through the market and focused on listening to their concerns, demonstrating his commitment to communication with the public. This visit followed a tribute to the National May 18 Democratic Cemetery and was part of his efforts to connect with the citizens of Gwangju. Lee's market visit is interpreted as a move to convey a political message while also directly hearing the voices from the livelihood sector, and it seems aimed at strengthening support among his party's traditional base in the Honam region.

Volunteering and Meals at the Yeonggwang Senior Welfare Center

On October 10, 2024, Lee Jae-myung, the leader of the Democratic Party, visited Yeonggwang-gun in Jeollanam-do a day before the early voting for the October 16 re-election. On the morning of that day, he participated in a meal service activity at the Yeonggwang Senior Welfare Center and shared a meal with the elderly to gauge the local atmosphere. Lee Jae-myung had been staying in Yeonggwang since the previous day, visiting the terminal, shopping districts, and the Disabled Persons Association, where he appealed for support for Jang Se-il, the Democratic Party candidate for Yeonggwang-gun mayor. His schedule at the Senior Welfare Center was designed to emphasize the need for a government accountability movement through direct contact with local voters while conveying the Democratic Party's policy intentions. During the meal, he chatted with the elderly, listened to local issues, and shared the party’s stance on welfare and livelihood policies. This approach is interpreted as a strategy to strengthen communication centered on people's livelihoods ahead of the re-election, while rallying traditional support bases in the Honam region.

Meeting and Lunch at Geumho High School

On November 27, 2024, Lee Jae-myung, the leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, visited Kumho High School in Seongdong-gu, Seoul, to hold a field meeting on the topic of free high school education. During the meeting, he emphasized that education is a fundamental responsibility of the state and should not be shifted to individuals. He specifically pointed out the past situation where students bore the costs of high school education directly and expressed strong concerns about the trend of cuts to the education budget. After the meeting, Representative Lee shared lunch with students in the dietary education room. In this setting, he naturally conversed with the students, explaining the necessity of free high school education and the direction of the policy. The lunch event was conducted as part of a communication effort to go beyond simple interaction, observing the applicability of the policy in the field and the reactions of the students. This visit was interpreted as a strategic move to directly convey the will to realize the policy, aligned with the push for amendments to the Local Education Financial Grant Act to ensure the stable continuation of free high school education. The Democratic Party aimed to highlight the public nature of education and the strengthening of national responsibility as key messages through this initiative.

Lunch and training at Jincheon Human Resources Development Institute

President Lee Jae-myung visited the National Civil Service Talent Development Institute in Jincheon, Chungcheongbuk-do on July 14, 2025, and had lunch with the trainees of the 70th term of the 5th grade new manager training course. On that day, he gave a special lecture on the topic of "The Era of National Sovereignty and the Path of Public Officials," and during the subsequent lunch hour, a photo was shared where he was seen sharing a tray with the trainees in the cafeteria and drinking directly from a bowl of soup in one shot, which became a hot topic. The photo distributed by the presidential office was referred to as a "drinking shot," and the unprecedented scene of his face being covered by the soup bowl garnered significant interest online. During the lunch, President Lee emphasized the integrity and responsibility of public officials, warning that "money is the devil," and stated that he would not hold public officials with good intentions accountable afterward. He stressed the importance of direction in public service, sincerity, and self-development, urging the trainees to approach their work with a sense of responsibility for the lives of the people. This event marked the first time in about 20 years that a sitting president gave a special lecture to new administrative officials since former President Roh Moo-hyun, conveying a strong message about public culture and government operations.

State Council Meeting and Lunch at Yongsan Government Complex

On June 5, 2025, President Lee Jae-myung presided over his first Cabinet meeting at the presidential office in Yongsan, Seoul. The meeting started at 10 a.m. and lasted for about 3 hours and 40 minutes, continuing until 1:40 p.m., passing through lunchtime. During the meeting, the president and cabinet members continued discussions while having kimbap and a glass of water for lunch. In his opening remarks, President Lee emphasized the weight of responsibility entrusted to him by the people and urged public officials to relax and do their best in their duties. Various issues were addressed during the meeting, including the expansion of autonomy in the R&D sector, minimum wage and industrial safety in the public sector, and ensuring fairness in the platform economy. The president directly questioned specific matters and issued detailed instructions. He also highlighted the importance of continuity and discipline in administration, stating that he would respect and continue aspects of the previous government's policy framework that need to be maintained. The meeting indicated an administrative approach that values substance over form and demonstrated the president's and cabinet's commitment to closely addressing livelihood issues.