President Lee Jae-myung and First Lady Kim Hye-kyung visited Pier 39 in San Francisco on July 25, meeting local residents and tourists from around the world.
Deputy Spokesperson Ahn Gyu-ryeong stated in a written briefing that the couple took time to greet and interact with citizens and visitors at Pier 39.
Pier 39 is a mixed-use cultural and commercial space that features a sea lion habitat, restaurants, shops, and street performances. It is regarded as a model of urban regeneration, transforming a former industrial pier into a tourist attraction, drawing approximately 15 million visitors annually.
During the busy weekend at Pier 39, the presidential couple received insights from Im Jeong-taek, the Consul General in San Francisco, about the urban regeneration process and local marine ecology.
After exploring the shops and street scenes, the couple moved to the waterfront to observe sea lions resting on rocks and floating docks.
As they appeared, they were greeted with shouts of “Welcome” and “Nice to meet you.” Visitors called out “Mr. President” and “South Korea’s President,” with some even greeting them in Korean.
The couple waved back, exchanged handshakes and high-fives, and readily posed for photos, asking visitors where they were from and what brought them to San Francisco.
One foreign tourist expressed interest in Korea, mentioning that her daughter hopes to study there. The couple happily took a photo with her and greeted other tourists who identified themselves as being from Korea.
After their visit to Pier 39, the couple moved to Scoma's, a long-established restaurant in San Francisco, where they enjoyed local dishes such as clam chowder and pasta, wrapping up their U.S. visit.
Deputy Spokesperson Ahn noted, “This visit was designed to step away from formal official events and naturally engage with local citizens and directly communicate with tourists from around the world,” adding that the warm reception from citizens and the couple's responses deepened the friendship between the two nations.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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