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Reporters set up outside the National Assembly building on May 9 for the presidential inauguration to be held the next day. (pool photo)

On Tuesday, President Yoon Suk-yeol began his five-year term after being sworn in at the National Assembly. A former prosecutor general with no political experience, Yoon flipped the presidency after five years of Democratic Party rule, and the prospect of his administration has generated both anticipation and concern among the public.

Figures in the circles of politics, economics, social affairs, and culture are pointing to national unity as the task Yoon should prioritize first and foremost as president.

The first presidential task Yoon performed after taking office as of the beginning of the day Tuesday was receiving a report from the Joint Chiefs of Staff at the national emergency management center at his presidential office in the Yongsan District of Seoul.

After paying his respects at the Seoul National Cemetery located in the Dongjak District, Yoon attended his inauguration ceremony, held in the garden in front of the National Assembly, and took his oath of office.

Yoon reportedly hopes to emphasize the restoration of freedom, human rights, the market, fairness, solidarity, and the spirit of the constitution through his inaugural address. Park Joo-sun, the chairman of the presidential inauguration organizing committee, explained that “[Yoon’s] inaugural address talks about building a country based on freedom, fairness, and solidarity whose true owners are the people; a warm and heartwarming country for the vulnerable; and a country where the dreams of children and young people can be realized.”

With Yoon’s inauguration, the Blue House era has drawn to a close, ushering in the era of the Yongsan presidential office. Immediately following his election, Yoon pushed ahead with his plan to relocate the presidential office out of the Blue House without gathering public opinion. For this, he was criticized for his dogmatism and uncommunicative leadership and is set to begin his term with a precarious support rating that falls short of 50%. Concerns still remain regarding whether Yoon will be able to fulfill his promise to communicate with the public after forcing open the Yongsan presidential office era through twists and turns.

Yoon has in front of him a mountain of tasks to tackle domestically and abroad. One of the most urgent tasks he faces is remedying the extreme national division within South Korea that was magnified during the presidential election and achieving national unity. Many have also advised him to demonstrate his political ability by communicating with the Democratic Party, which holds a majority at the National Assembly. Revitalizing the domestic economy that has become stagnant due to the COVID-19 pandemic is another challenge Yoon is up against.

The external environment surrounding the Korean Peninsula is cause for concern as well. A diplomatic solution is needed to overcome uncertain inter-Korean relations and ensure South Korea’s survival amidst the intensifying competition between the US and China. Another urgent matter is surmounting the global economic crisis triggered by the war in Ukraine.

Though the Yoon administration kicked off on Tuesday, when Yoon’s Cabinet will begin normal operations is up in the air. The Democratic Party is all but ready to refuse to confirm prime minister nominee Han Duck-soo for being “unfit,” and on top of that, it’s also calling on Yoon to withdraw five of his Cabinet nominations, including justice minister nominee Han Dong-hoon.

Park Myung-lim, a professor of political science at Yonsei University, commented that “for President Yoon Suk-yeol, who is beginning his term with a low support rating, cooperative governance, coalition, and integration are requirements for stable government alone.”

“As the head of the administration, [Yoon] should put an effort to establish [himself] with humility and listen closely to the legislature and the judiciary more tirelessly than previous presidents,” Park added.

Kim Yeon-chul, a former unification minister, advised that Yoon should “make sure that the interest of both South Korea and the US are not thrown off balance amid the strategic competition between the US and China.”

By Kim Mi-na, staff reporter; Song Chae Kyung-hwa, staff reporter

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