Gift set draws on traditional liquors and local produce from across the country's five mega-regions and three special autonomous provinces

[Cheong Wa Dae]
[Cheong Wa Dae]

President Lee Jae Myung sent chuseok gifts to people across all walks of life Wednesday, expressing his wish for national unity and the well-being of ordinary citizens. As he did last year, Lee included families of industrial accident victims among the recipients, reaffirming the government's commitment to creating safer workplaces.

Cheong Wa Dae said Lee delivered the gifts to prominent figures who have contributed to national development, war heroes, national merit recipients, socially vulnerable groups and families of workers killed in industrial accidents. "The gifts embody the government's firm resolve to build a society where every citizen can work safely and enjoy a peaceful daily life," Cheong Wa Dae said.

This year's chuseok gift set was composed of regional specialties from across the country, reflecting the "five mega-regions and three special autonomous provinces" framework for balanced regional development and mutual prosperity.

From the five mega-regions, the set included red ginseng slices from Gimpo, Gyeonggi Province, in the Greater Seoul area; chestnut chips from Chungju, North Chungcheong Province, in the central region; Andong soju from Andong, North Gyeongsang Province, in the Daegu-North Gyeongsang region; dried shiitake mushrooms from Jangheung, South Jeolla Province, in the Honam region; and jujube chips from Miryang, South Gyeongsang Province, in the southeastern region. Representing the three special autonomous provinces, the set featured Igangju liquor from Jeonju, North Jeolla Province; gondeure greens from Yeongwol, Gangwon Province; and bracken fern from Jeju.

The gift set combined traditional liquors from the Yeongnam and Honam regions — Andong soju and Igangju — with wild greens, mushrooms and confections commonly used in holiday cooking, weaving together a message of unity and coexistence that bridges regions and generations.

In a card enclosed with the gifts, Lee wrote: "I wish you a precious chuseok, sending greetings to those you miss and sharing happiness with those you love." He added: "Like the moon that lights everyone's night without condition or qualification, I will work even harder to shine a bright light on the lives of all our people."

Meanwhile, Lee also sent chuseok gifts to former presidents and their spouses. Kim Tae-geun, the presidential secretary for autonomous development, plans to personally visit the private residences of former presidents and their spouses to deliver the gifts.


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