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The 17th presidency of Korea started as Lee Myung-bak formally took over presidential authority from former president Roh Moo-hyun at midnight on Monday, with the Bosingak Bell in downtown Seoul tolling the momentous hour. Lee now embarks on a government of pragmatic conservatism after putting an end to the decade-long leftwing rule.
He set out the revival of the economy and national unity as the two biggest topics for his agenda. But he is faced with daunting challenges -- gloomy prospects for the economy in the wake of worldwide financial instability and soaring prices of oil and raw materials; and deepening conflict between ruling and opposition parties over the government reform program and parliamentary confirmation hearings on the new Cabinet nominees.
Lee's approval ratings are not as impressive as those of previous presidents released on the occasion of their inauguration.
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Women wearing traditional clothes sing during a full-dress rehearsal for the inauguration ceremony of president-elect Lee Myung-bak at the National Assembly in Seoul on Monday. /REUTERS
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In his inaugural address, Lee offered a positive appraisal of the six short decades since the founding of the Republic of Korea during which industrialization and democratization were achieved. He declared 2008 the first year to make Korea an advanced nation. He asked the people to make efforts to create a new myth on the Korean Peninsula through harmony and cooperation, social integration and economic development, upholding the "Global Korea" banner.
"I will continue to emphasize opening and creativity based on a pragmatic Zeitgeist, and define responsibility for the principles of competition and welfare as a positive role of the state." He urged North Korea to open up and denuclearize, saying, "The leaders of the two Koreas should meet anytime to hold talks with open minds."
Immediately following his inauguration on Monday, Lee will have separate talks with foreign dignitaries such as Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda, Chinese State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan, Russian Prime Minister Victor Zubkov, and U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.
Also attending the inauguration ceremony were Indonesian Vice President Jusuf Kalla, Australian House Speaker Harry Jenkins, Turkmenistan Mejlis Speaker Akja Nurberdiyeva, Kazakhstan Vice Prime Minister Umirzak Shukeev, Canadian Foreign Minister Maxime Bernier, New Zealand's Foreign Minister Winston Peters, and Romanian State Secretary Anton Niculescu.
(englishnews@chosun.com )
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