President Lee Jae-myung's Friday Dining - A Meal Revitalizing Alley Economy

Politics comes to the dining table

On the evening of Friday, July 11, 2025, an unusual scene unfolded in front of a pork belly restaurant near Gwanghwamun in Seoul. President Lee Jae-myung donned a white apron and personally grilled meat, raising a toast with citizens while making 'so-maek,' a mixture of soju and beer in a 1:3 ratio. His actions, handing out the drinks one by one, were noted as a symbolic political act that transcended mere performance. To seep into the daily lives of the public, politics often requires realistic language and methods above all else. The president's descent to the 'common man's table' of a pork belly restaurant was an experiment in translating administrative-centric messages into the language of everyday life. This scene has been referred to as a symbolic example of 'politics coming down into daily life,' and behind it lay concrete policy concepts aimed at boosting domestic demand and recovering the livelihoods of citizens.

"Dining Out" - Between Symbolism and Policy

The event that President Lee Jae-myung participated in was planned under the name "Dining with the President – A Meal to Revive the Local Economy." As the title suggests, it was not just a simple dining occasion but a campaign conveying a message of economic recovery, linked to the soon-to-be-implemented "Livelihood Recovery Consumption Coupon" policy and characterized by a pre-performance aspect. In fact, just before the event, the president made it clear through his social media that he hoped it would be an opportunity for people to enjoy everyday consumption, including dining, without burden, linking the implementation of the policy naturally to the daily lives of the citizens. This is not just a simple event but a strategic approach to bring economic policy closer to the public. It can particularly be interpreted within the continuity of government policies aimed at reviving local businesses and the alley economy, which have been stagnant since the COVID-19 pandemic. Dining out is the most representative indicator and means of domestic recovery, and the president taking the lead in this consumption activity by directly experiencing and promoting it was an unusual yet practical attempt.

Scenery and Message of the Field

At around 6:30 PM on that day, as the presidential vehicle arrived in front of the restaurant, citizens who had learned of the event through social media gathered. President Yoon took photos with the citizens and shook hands as he entered the restaurant without hesitation. Wearing a white apron and rolling up his shirt sleeves, the president personally ordered pork belly, soju, beer, and cider before starting to grill meat alongside the staff. His movements as he flipped the meat and placed fernbrake were skillful, seen more as a political message of 'a meal shared together' rather than just a performance. During the meal, the president raised a toast saying, 'Happy Friday evening!' and served homemade soju beer to each staff member. The carefully crafted soju beer, with its mentioned ratio, broke down the tension between the president and the staff, naturally fostering a sense of community. Those invited to the gathering included a Cheong Wa Dae staff member who had recently collapsed from overwork, APEC summit preparation personnel, and public service recruitment officials, to whom President Yoon expressed gratitude and comfort. He also emphasized responsibility by stating, 'One hour of a public servant is one hour of 52 million citizens,' and lightened the atmosphere with the remark, 'From now on, I am off work.' This statement symbolically illustrated the president's philosophy on improving public servant culture.

The Politics Embedded in a Glass of Soju Beer

The act of 'making soju and beer' as a political act has strong symbolism in itself. Soju and beer represent a drinking culture that transcends generations and social classes in Korean society, serving as a catalyst to bridge human distances. The act of the president personally handing over soju and beer dismantles the verticality of authority while symbolizing an equal solidarity with the people. Furthermore, this dining event is noteworthy as it exemplifies the expansion of the 'space of governance' beyond specific job domains. The fact that the center of politics has moved from the Blue House to everyday spaces like a barbecue restaurant can be seen as a form of citizen-centered politics. In fact, President Lee Jae-myung has focused on 'field politics' since his time as the mayor of Seongnam, and within this context, the recent dining event can be interpreted not merely as publicity but as a practice of political action. Additionally, the guest list invited by the president is noteworthy. The invitation to staff who have collapsed from overwork and those suffering from late-night work demonstrates a commitment to improving the overall working environment and culture in the public service, rather than merely encouraging employees.

The Political Significance of the 'Living Recovery Consumption Coupons'

The policy that serves as the practical background for this dining event is the 'Living Recovery Consumer Coupon,' which will be implemented starting July 21, 2025. This policy targets the dual goals of regional economic recovery and stabilizing the lives of ordinary citizens. A basic coupon of 150,000 won will be provided to all citizens, while those in lower-income brackets and single-parent families will receive 300,000 won, and basic livelihood recipients will receive 400,000 won. Additionally, residents of non-metropolitan areas will receive an extra 30,000 won, and rural residents will get an additional 50,000 won, resulting in a maximum support of 550,000 won. The usage deadline is until November 30, 2025, and applicants can use the coupon at local love gift certificate participating stores within their jurisdiction or at small businesses with annual sales of 3 billion won or less. Exclusions include large supermarkets, department stores, online shopping malls, and entertainment venues, while traditional markets, neighborhood marts, restaurants, and pharmacies are eligible for usage. Both online and offline application methods are available, and a 'visiting application' service is also offered for underserved groups. This careful policy design not only aims to stimulate consumption but also includes support for socially vulnerable groups in a practical manner. The government anticipates that this consumer coupon policy could boost economic growth rates by as much as 0.32 percentage points. In particular, the expansion of consumption centered around traditional markets and local commercial areas is expected to induce a positive economic cycle within the region, which may have long-term beneficial effects on price stability and job creation. President Lee Jae-myung's 'dining performance' is analyzed as a symbolic step to lead the emotional validity and public perception of this policy. It serves as an emotional interface necessary to ensure that the policy does not exist solely in numbers but is communicated in the language of everyday life.

Politics of people's livelihood starting from the dining table

President Lee Jae-myung's Friday dining outing is not just a simple communication event. It is a strategic attempt to bring politics and policies into the realm of everyday life, serving as an experiment to directly convey the government's stance on revitalizing domestic demand and recovering the local economy to the public. The dining table symbolizes more than just a space for meals in Korean society it represents communication and relationships. The fact that the president sat at that table together sends a message that livelihoods are being shifted from mere statistics or reports to the realm of experience and empathy. Notably, the timing and linkage of the consumption coupon policy with the dining performance reflect a design that considers both the emotional aspect of politics and the effectiveness of policies. While policies are executed in the language of administration, they must be translated into the language of daily life to resonate with the public. The "dining politics" demonstrated by President Lee Jae-myung serves as an example of this translation. Through genuine contact, the establishment of practical systems, and the symbolic act, he presents a new grammar of politics. If this "life-centered politics" can secure sustainability and credibility in the future, the authority of politics may diminish, while citizen participation can expand further. Whether President Lee Jae-myung's dining politics will remain a first step or establish itself as a new style of governance depends on future policy effects and public evaluation. However, what is clear is that this dining event has proven the possibility that politics can indeed start at the dining table.