2013 April Cover

President Park Geun-hye, Korea's first female president

大韓民國第十八屆總統朴槿惠正式就任承諾開啟國民幸福時代

With her inauguration on February 25, President Park Geun-hye has officially begun her five-year term as the 18th Korean president.

Before the inauguration, the presidential transition committee announced five major goals and 140 detailed state tasks on February 21, proposing the key vision of the incoming government as "a new era of happiness and hope for people."

The five major goals are building a "creative economy focusing on job creation," "customized employment and welfare," "a life of culture and creativity education," "a society of safety and integration," and "building a foundation for the happy reunification of the Korean Peninsula."

The Park Geun-hye administration plans to create a trustworthy, clean, and capable government through carrying out these goals, related strategies, and tasks.

President Park reads message of hope from citizens

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President Park pledges to open new era of hope, happiness

President Park Geun-hye, former President Lee Myung-bak, and other participants of the inauguration salute the national flag at the presidential inauguration ceremony held at the National Assembly in Seoul on February 25

President Park Geun-hye has been officially sworn in as the president of Korea with her administration focusing on pursuing social integration and opening a new era of hope. As the first female leader in modern history, President Park expressed her will to achieve economic revitalization, the flourishing of culture, and the happiness of the people. With the slogan of “Opening a new era of hope,” the presidential inauguration was held on February 25 in front of the National Assembly located in Yeouido, Seoul.

The main inauguration began with the national anthem sung by world-class soprano Jo Sumi and baritone Choi Hyun-soo. President Park entered the inauguration venue with 30 representatives after the pre-ceremony cultural performances. She pledged “economic rejuvenation, the happiness of the people, and the flourishing of our culture” as president of the Republic of Korea in her speech. “I pledge to embark on the making of a ‘Second Miracle on the Han River,’” said President Park, expressing her firm will and hopes in her address.

In regard to the goal of achieving economic revival, she said, “The new administration will usher in a new era of hope premised on a revitalized economy” through pursuing a creative economy and economic democratization. “A creative economy is defined by the convergence of science and technology with industry, the fusion of culture with industry, and the blossoming of creativity in the very borders that were once permeated by barriers,” said President Park, pointing science, technology, and IT as key priorities of her vision of a creative economy.

“In order for a creative economy to truly blossom, economic democratization must be achieved,” said Park, emphasizing the importance of economic democratization as a prerequisite of a creative economy. “I believe strongly that only when a fair market is firmly in place, can everyone dream of a better future and work to their fullest potential,” said Park.

On the issue of welfare, President Park emphasized the importance of education and mentioned a new paradigm of tailored welfare; “A new paradigm of tailored welfare will free citizens from anxieties and allow them to prosper in their own professions, maximize their potentials, and also contribute to the nation’s development,” said President Park. “We need to provide active support so that education brings out the best of an individual‘s latent abilities and we need to establish a new system that fosters national development through the stepping stones of each individual’s capabilities.”

President Park stressed the value of culture, mentioning the international popularity of Hallyu, the Korean cultural wave. “We will build a nation that becomes happier through culture, where culture becomes a fabric of daily life, and a welfare system that embodies cultural values,” said Park. She also said the country will support “creative activities across wide-ranging genres,” nurture the “content industry which merges culture with advanced technology,” and “ignite the engine of a creative economy and create new jobs.”

President Park Geunhye (center) takes an oath of office at the presidential inauguration ceremony

In regard to geopolitical issues involving the Korean Peninsula, President Park affirmed her firm stance by saying, “I will not tolerate any action that threatens the lives of our people and the security of our nation.” She urged the North to abandon its nuclear ambitions without delay and embark on the path to peace and shared development.

“Through a trust-building process on the Korean Peninsula, I intend to lay the groundwork for an era of harmonious unification,” Said Park. “It is my hope that North Korea will abide by international norms and make the right choice so that the trust-building process on the Korean Peninsula can move forward,” said Park, expressing her hope for peaceful reunification.

Park urged the Korean people to “work together towards a new era of happiness and hope” in order for all to “become partners in another miracle or a new chapter in the ‘Miracle on the Han River’” at the end of her speech followed by a big applause of the ceremony participants.

After the inaugural address, the Korea Symphony Orchestra presented a special performance of “Arirang Fantasy,” a new modern interpretation of “Arirang” by new-age musician Yang Bang-ean. This performance featured four famous female vocalists -- singer Insooni, jazz singer Nah Youn Sun, musical star Choi Jeong-won, and gugak singer Ahn Sook-sun.

Nearly 70,000 people from all walks of life attended the inauguration. Among them included Korean miners and nurses who were sent to Germany in the 1970s.

More than 140 diplomatic envoys and ambassadors to Korea also attended the ceremony. High-ranking officials and world leaders who attended the inauguration included Deputy Prime Minister Aso Taro from Japan, National Security Advisor Thomas Donilon from the United States, First Vice President of Peru Marisol Espinoza Cruz, Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, State Councilor Liu Yandong of China who is currently serving on the Politburo of the Communist Party of China, Australian Governor General Quentin Bryce, and Executive Director of UN Women Michelle Vachelet Jeria.

President Park Geun-hye (center) delivers an inaugural address at the presidential inauguration ceremony

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大韓民國第十八屆總統朴槿惠，二月二十五日上午在位於首爾汝矣島國會議事堂，在國內外貴賓以及普通國民共七萬多人現場見證下，正式宣誓就任韓國總統。

朴槿惠總統在就職演說中重申，將振興經濟，擴大福利。繼工業化、民主化和現代化之後，開啟國民幸福時代。

在題為《開啟充滿希望的新時代》的就職演說中，朴槿惠總統稱將振興經濟，繁榮文化，建設使每一位國民都可以感到幸福的大韓民國。

她在就職演說中說：「在克服了無數困難和逆境後，我們又面臨全球金融危機和北韓核威脅，作為『漢江奇跡』的締造者，讓我們齊心協力，再創『漢江奇跡』，建設國民幸福和充滿希望的新時代。」

經濟方面，朴槿惠總統表示為振興經濟，將全面促進創造型經濟發展，推進經濟民主化進程。並強調創造型經濟是指將科學技術和產業與文化相結合，在產業臨界點創造新經濟。因此，要大力發展科學技術和IT產業。

國民幸福方面，她說：「無論國家如何發展，如果國民感覺生活存在不安的話，就沒有任何意義。達成老有所依、安居樂業，能無後顧之憂地生兒育女的國民幸福，是時代賦予我的責任。充滿希望的新時代始於教育，如果只是熱衷於沒有創意、千篇一律的競爭，卻無視個人能力的話，我們將失去未來。學歷、背景至上的社會只能扼殺個人的夢想和希望，我們的社會一定要從學歷至上轉變為能力至上。」

在繁榮文化方面，朴槿惠總統稱，將使每位國民生活充滿文化韻味，大力支援各領域的文化創作活動，培養文化和科學技術相融合的產業，以創造型經濟為平台，增加就業機會。她同時指出：「目前我們面臨的安全局勢十分嚴峻，北韓必須遵守國際社會的准則，放棄核開發，做出正確的選擇，新政府將在可靠的遏制力基礎上，為積累南北韓信賴一步步前進。」

朴槿惠總統最后稱，我將擔當起一國總統之責，但決定國家命運的是廣大國民，我一定會建設廉潔、高透明度、務實的新政府，獲得國民的信賴。

韓國新總統朴槿惠就職活動隨著二月二十五日凌時舉行的「普信閣敲鐘」儀式展開，考慮不同地區和階層等，大會挑選了十八名國民代表參加敲鐘活動，十八名象徵韓國「第十八任」總統。

朴槿惠總統上午十時離開首爾三成洞的私人住宅，與國家有功人士一起參拜銅雀洞的國立顯忠院，然後前往在首爾汝矣島的國會廣場舉行的就職典禮現場。此前，偶像組合JYJ、以《江南style》聞名世界的歌手PSY等在會場進行文藝演出。

就職典禮在上午十時五十五分正式開始。朴槿惠總統與三十名國民代表一起入席，一百名國民代表在她身後就坐。就職典禮籌備委員會方面說，當初計畫參加人數為六萬人，由於申請人太多，後來增加至七萬。

就職典禮按國民儀禮、典禮致辭、就職宣誓、儀仗隊行進及鳴放禮炮、總統就職演說、祝賀演出、歡送離任總統等次序進行。下午一時二十五分，朴槿惠總統接受青瓦台附近的清雲洞、孝子洞居民的歡迎，正式入住青瓦台。下午四時許，於世宗文化會館出席慶祝宴會，下午七時，在青瓦台迎賓館邀請外國使節等主要外賓進行晚宴。