Yoon Suk-yeol presidency starts

May 10, 2022, 08:54 am

		0
The photo is President Yoon Suk-yeol's office at former headquarters of the Ministry of National Defense in Seoul's Yongsan District on May 9, 2022, one day before he starts his five-year term./ Source: Yonhap

AsiaToday reporter Lee Wook-jae

President Yoon Suk-yeol has started his term as the 20th president of South Korea on Tuesday under the slogan of “Again, Korea! A new nation of people.” The new administration will need to face wrestle with the coronavirus pandemic, soaring housing prices, job issues and North Korean threats among many other pressing issues.

At his inauguration ceremony, Yoon is expected to emphasize communication with the people while stressing freedom, human rights, market, fairness and solidarity as core values.

Yoon has officially started his term by joining a bell ringing ceremony at the Bosingak Pavilion in Seoul’s Jongno District at midnight Monday before his official inauguration Tuesday.

He has begun his duties as commander-in-chief by receiving a briefing from the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) at an underground bunker of his new office in Yongsan. He was briefed by phone in the new presidential office, which will serve as the situation room of the national crisis management center.

The Yoon Suk-yeol administration faces major challenges, including unstable real estate and housing prices, economic stagnation due to the pandemic, and job problems. It is expected to stabilize in the early stages by overcoming the pandemic crisis, stabilizing the real estate market, and creating jobs.

Besides, he has an important task to achieve national unity and cooperation as he was elected president by winning only 0.73 percentage point in the March 9 election.

In order to address a series of challenges, Yoon plans to articulate the vision of state affairs for the next five years in his inaugural address. He is expected to emphasize the value of freedom and market economy, the will to defend the constitution based on fairness and common sense, and the will to unify the divided nation.

After paying tribute at the Seoul National Cemetery on Tuesday morning, Yoon will attend his inauguration ceremony which is set to begin at 11 a.m. at the National Assembly plaza, along with his wife Kim Keon-hee. He will step out of his car as soon as he enters the National Assembly compound and walk 180 meters across the plaza while shaking hands and taking selfies with people.

His inaugural address is expected to last for about 15 minutes, and screens will be installed on both sides of the stage to broadcast the opening of Cheong Wa Dae to the public in real time.

During his speech, Yoon is expected to put an emphasis on liberty, human rights, market economy, fairness and solidarity.

#Yoon Suk-yeol #presidency