New Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol begins his 5-year term

President Yoon Suk Yeol salutes as he receives a report from the military in the underground bunker of the new presidential office in Yongsan, Seoul, May 10, photo provided by the presidential office – YONHAP

President Yoon Suk Yeol’s National Security Office said that when he received a report from the Joint Chiefs of Staff, President Yoon Suk Yeol made a speech appreciating the army’s efforts in protecting the border and territory. people’s lives and property.

To mark the launch of the new government, Korea held a bell-ringing ceremony in downtown Seoul at 4 a.m. local time, the end of the night curfew and the beginning of a new day under the Joseon Dynasty. (1392-1910).

Twenty representatives selected from the public, including a naturalized citizen, a space scientist and a North Korean defector, rang the bell 33 times at the Bosingak bell tower. Before the bell-ringing ceremony, various cultural events were held to celebrate the new government starting its term.

The official inauguration is scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. on May 10 at the National Assembly building. More than 40,000 people are expected to attend Mr. Yoon’s swearing-in ceremony, including many international diplomats and politicians.

Mr. Yoon took office at a time when South Korea was struggling to deal with economic challenges related to the COVID-19 pandemic, the war in Ukraine and other factors that led to inflation, interest rates and exchange rates. Exchange rates are so high.

According to Yonhap News Agency, his term promises to be fraught with goals of preventing an economic crisis, getting the cooperation of an opposition-controlled National Assembly and handling North Korea with tact. .

Mr. Yoon also faces the daunting task of mending a deeply fractured relationship with Japan.

During the election campaign, Mr. Yoon expressed his will to build a forward-looking relationship with Japan despite the two countries’ unresolved disputes over the use of Korean women to entertain Japanese soldiers. During wartime, forced labor and territorial issues stemmed from Tokyo’s 1910-1945 colonial rule on the Korean peninsula.

Just 10 days after taking office, Mr. Yoon will welcome US President Joe Biden during his visit on May 20 and 21. It is expected that economic security and North Korea will be the main topics of the summit between the two leaders.