The Korea Times
amn_close.png
amn_bl.png
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
amn_bl.png
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
  • World Expo 2030
amn_bl.png
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
amn_bl.png
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to the Editor
amn_bl.png
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
amn_bl.png
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
amn_bl.png
Sports
  • Hangzhou Asian Games
amn_bl.png
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
amn_bl.png
Video
  • Korean Storytellers
  • POPKORN
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
amn_bl.png
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
amn_NK.png amn_DR.png amn_LK.png amn_LE.png
  • bt_fb_on_2022.svgbt_fb_over_2022.svg
  • bt_twitter_on_2022.svgbt_twitter_over_2022.svg
  • bt_youtube_on_2022.svgbt_youtube_over_2022.svg
  • bt_instagram_on_2022.svgbt_instagram_over_2022.svg
The Korea Times
amn_close.png
amn_bl.png
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
amn_bl.png
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
  • World Expo 2030
amn_bl.png
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
amn_bl.png
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to the Editor
amn_bl.png
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
amn_bl.png
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
amn_bl.png
Sports
  • Hangzhou Asian Games
amn_bl.png
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
amn_bl.png
Video
  • Korean Storytellers
  • POPKORN
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
amn_bl.png
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
amn_NK.png amn_DR.png amn_LK.png amn_LE.png
  • bt_fb_on_2022.svgbt_fb_over_2022.svg
  • bt_twitter_on_2022.svgbt_twitter_over_2022.svg
  • bt_youtube_on_2022.svgbt_youtube_over_2022.svg
  • bt_instagram_on_2022.svgbt_instagram_over_2022.svg
  • Login
  • Register
  • Login
  • Register
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • all menu
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Photos
  • Video
  • World
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment & Art
  • Lifestyle
  • Finance
  • Business
  • National
  • North Korea
  • 1

    INTERVIEWYim Si-wan went extra mile to portray legendary athlete in 'Road to Boston'

  • 3

    S. Korea to stage massive military parade as tensions with North remain high

  • 5

    China's 'batwoman' scientist warns another coronavirus outbreak is 'highly likely'

  • 7

    Seoul, Beijing try to mend fences as Russia and N. Korea grow closer

  • 9

    Tanghulu captures hearts of Korean millennials and Gen Z

  • 11

    Korea, Saudi Arabia celebrate 93rd Saudi National Day, vow stronger cooperation

  • 13

    PHOTOSHarvest season arrives

  • 15

    Low growth becomes new normal for Korean economy

  • 17

    LG Chem to build LFP cathode plant with Huayou in Morocco

  • 19

    An American high school experience in Seoul

  • 2

    Samsung, SK relieved by revised chip restrictions on China

  • 4

    K-pop group Kingdom recalls album cover resembling Quran

  • 6

    BTS' Jungkook to drop 2nd solo single '3D'

  • 8

    4 in 10 Koreans experience overdue wages: survey

  • 10

    Patients, doctors at loggerheads as operating room CCTV footage made mandatory

  • 12

    The ethical issues of AI: fighting the right battles

  • 14

    Lee Jae-myung's possible arrest looms over main opposition party

  • 16

    Mirae Asset Global Investments' AUM reaches $219 bil.

  • 18

    Bears of Joseon part 2: Behind bars

  • 20

    Russian FM to visit Pyongyang next month as follow-up to Kim-Putin summit

Close scrollclosebutton

Close for 24 hours

Open
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • all menu
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Photos
  • Video
  • World
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment & Art
  • Lifestyle
  • Finance
  • Business
  • National
  • North Korea
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
Tue, September 26, 2023 | 20:53
Politics
Politicians eating in traditional market raises eyebrows
Posted : 2021-01-24 16:37
Updated : 2021-01-25 10:41
Jung Da-min
Print PreviewPrint Preview
Font Size UpFont Size Up
Font Size DownFont Size Down
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • kakaolink
  • whatsapp
  • reddit
  • mailto
  • link
Ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) Chairman Lee Nak-yon, center, eats fish cake at a stall in Namdaemun Market in central Seoul, Saturday, together with former SMEs and Startups Minister Park Young-sun, left, DPK Rep. Woo Sang-ho, right, two candidates of the DPK competing for the party's primary to run in the Seoul mayoral by-election in April. Yonhap
Ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) Chairman Lee Nak-yon, center, eats fish cake at a stall in Namdaemun Market in central Seoul, Saturday, together with former SMEs and Startups Minister Park Young-sun, left, DPK Rep. Woo Sang-ho, right, two candidates of the DPK competing for the party's primary to run in the Seoul mayoral by-election in April. Yonhap

By Jung Da-min

With less than three months left before April's by-elections, potential candidates have started campaigning, with some of them visiting traditional markets to hear about the economic hardships suffered by merchants amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

While it has become routine for politicians to eat popular street foods in traditional markets to appeal to blue-collar voters, critics say such practices show the hypocritical side of politicians as most of them visit such markets only during campaign periods.

On Saturday, former SMEs and Startups Minister Park Young-sun and Rep. Woo Sang-ho, two members of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) competing in the party's primary race to select a candidate to run in the Seoul mayoral by-election, visited Namdaemun Market in Seoul, together with DPK Chairman Lee Nak-yon. The politicians ate fish cake at a stall while listening to the hardships suffered by vendors and small business owners there.

Three days earlier, Na Kyung-won, a former four-term lawmaker with the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) running to become the PPP's candidate for the by-election, also engaged in a similar campaign, visiting a local market in Seoul's Yangcheon District and eating "hotteok," or Korean pancake, from a stall.

Ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) Chairman Lee Nak-yon, center, eats fish cake at a stall in Namdaemun Market in central Seoul, Saturday, together with former SMEs and Startups Minister Park Young-sun, left, DPK Rep. Woo Sang-ho, right, two candidates of the DPK competing for the party's primary to run in the Seoul mayoral by-election in April. Yonhap
Na Kyung-won, a former four-term lawmaker with the main opposition People Power Party (PPP), eats "hotteok" at a stall during her visit to a local market in Seoul's Yangcheon District, Jan. 20. She is running to be the PPP's candidate for the Seoul mayoral by-election. Korea Times photo by Oh Dae-geun

Food columnist Hwang Kyo-ik said on Facebook that such practices could antagonize people as they could be viewed as a "political show."

"In Korea, politicians go to markets to eat tteokbokki (rice cake in red pepper sauce), soondae (traditional Korean-style sausage), fish cakes, bungeoppang (a fish-shaped bun with red bean paste) and hotteok, and reporters take pictures of them. I wonder if such practices also take place in other countries," Hwang said. "As far as I can see it, such practices are legacies of past monarchies ― kings inspecting the living conditions of their people."

Other critics also said the "one-off events" do not help improve the economic conditions of the vendors there.

Citizens were also skeptical of these practices.

"I really don't understand. They (politicians) never appear at the markets but come to shake hands with the vendors and have a mukbang [eating] show when an election is nearing. After the election, they disappear again. Now we need to tell politicians to go away when they visit markets," a blogger wrote.


Emaildamin.jung@koreatimes.co.kr Article ListMore articles by this reporter
 
miguel
wooribank
Top 10 Stories
14 in 10 Koreans experience overdue wages: survey 4 in 10 Koreans experience overdue wages: survey
2Tanghulu captures hearts of Korean millennials and Gen Z Tanghulu captures hearts of Korean millennials and Gen Z
3[PHOTOS] Harvest season arrives PHOTOSHarvest season arrives
4Korea has world's highest senior poverty rate: data Korea has world's highest senior poverty rate: data
5K-pop fans rally in Seoul against luxury brands' failure on climate action K-pop fans rally in Seoul against luxury brands' failure on climate action
6Korean gov't faces international criticism for R&D budget cuts Korean gov't faces international criticism for R&D budget cuts
7LG Uplus, Hanwha develop ceiling-mounted EV charging system LG Uplus, Hanwha develop ceiling-mounted EV charging system
8[EXCLUSIVE] Lawmakers to submit resolution urging China to free N. Korean escapees EXCLUSIVELawmakers to submit resolution urging China to free N. Korean escapees
9SK earthon begins crude oil production in South China Sea SK earthon begins crude oil production in South China Sea
10Main opposition chief in showdown with prosecutors over arrest Main opposition chief in showdown with prosecutors over arrest
Top 5 Entertainment News
1K-pop group Kingdom recalls album cover resembling Quran K-pop group Kingdom recalls album cover resembling Quran
2BTS' Jungkook to drop 2nd solo single '3D' BTS' Jungkook to drop 2nd solo single '3D'
3Cho Seong-jin celebrates 140-year ties between Korea, UK Cho Seong-jin celebrates 140-year ties between Korea, UK
4[INTERVIEW] ONEUS returns as 'mermaid prince' INTERVIEWONEUS returns as 'mermaid prince'
5Kep1er unveils 'Magic Hour' with fresh perspective on love Kep1er unveils 'Magic Hour' with fresh perspective on love
DARKROOM
  • Turkey-Syria earthquake

    Turkey-Syria earthquake

  • Nepal plane crash

    Nepal plane crash

  • Brazil capital uprising

    Brazil capital uprising

  • Happy New Year 2023

    Happy New Year 2023

  • World Cup 2022 Final - Argentina vs France

    World Cup 2022 Final - Argentina vs France

CEO & Publisher : Oh Young-jin
Digital News Email : webmaster@koreatimes.co.kr
Tel : 02-724-2114
Online newspaper registration No : 서울,아52844
Date of registration : 2020.02.05
Masthead : The Korea Times
Copyright © koreatimes.co.kr. All rights reserved.
  • About Us
  • Introduction
  • History
  • Contact Us
  • Products & Services
  • Subscribe
  • E-paper
  • RSS Service
  • Content Sales
  • Site Map
  • Policy
  • Code of Ethics
  • Ombudsman
  • Privacy Statement
  • Terms of Service
  • Copyright Policy
  • Family Site
  • Hankook Ilbo
  • Dongwha Group