hankyoreh

South Korea's new President Lee Myung-bak took office at a ceremony here Monday, vowing to secure peace and prosperity in East Asia through closer partnerships with the U.S., Japan, China and Russia.

In his inaugural address, Lee said the two Koreas will be able to open a new horizon in bilateral cooperation if North Korea abandons its nuclear weapons program and shifts to an policy of openness.

Lee then reiterated his previous pledge to help a denuclearized North Korea double its per capita income to US$3,000 in a decade to accelerate the path to national unification.

"We will work to develop and further strengthen traditional friendly relations with the United States into a future-oriented partnership... We will seek peace and mutual prosperity with our close neighbors, including Japan, China and Russia and promote further exchange and cooperation with them," said Lee.

"Once North Korea abandons its nuclear program and chooses the path to openness, we can expect to see a new horizon in inter-Korean cooperation. Along with the international community, we will provide assistance so that we can raise the per capita income of North Korea to US$3,000 within 10 years."

Lee declared the year 2008 as the starting year for the advancement of South Korea.

"I do declare our solemn start towards a society that cherishes the fruit of democratization and industrialization, with each of its members doing their bits voluntarily in collaboration for the general welfare and towards a country that abounds in wealth, caring, and dignity," said the new president.

"We must move from the age of ideology into the age of pragmatism. Pragmatism is Zeitgeist that unites man and nature, matter and mind, individuals and communities for a healthy and beautiful life."

Lee described the future of Korea as a nation where the government serves its people with devotion, a nation where the economy is robust and the weak and marginalized are taken care of and a nation where labor and management collaborate in harmony.

The new South Korean leader stressed that his country will befriend all nations and peoples, transcending the differences in race, religion and wealth.

"The leaders of the two Koreas must contemplate what they can do to make the lives of all 70 million Koreans happy and how each side can respect each other and open the door to unification. If it is to discuss these issues, then I believe the two leaders should meet whenever necessary and talk openly, with an open mind."

At the inauguration ceremony held in front of the National Assembly in Yeouido, central Seoul, Monday morning, Lee also unveiled his vision to upgrade national development on the basis of the market economy and to spread pragmatic ideals throughout society.

He emphasized economic revitalization through deregulation and market-friendly reforms, improving people's lives through job creation and educational reform, increasing incentives for foreign investors and streamlining the public sector.

"Economic revival is our most urgent task. New engines of growth must emerge assuredly, the economy grow vigorously and more jobs be created. We will start with the government and transform it into a lean and capable organization," said Lee.

"We shall increase our effectiveness by abiding to the small government, big-market principle...

We shall also enhance competition in the public sector. We must lower taxes as well. Only then will we see investments and consumption increase once again."

Lee stressed his government will take part in reducing global carbon emissions while noting that climate change is threatening our very future.

Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda and about 180 other foreign dignitaries attended the inaugural ceremony, along with about 45,000 ordinary guests, including foreign workers and tourists and executives of foreign-invested firms in South Korea.

Other distinguished foreign guests included Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, Mongolian President Nambaryn Enkhbayar, Uzbek President Islam Karimov and Indonesian Vice President Jusuf Kalla.

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice led Washington's congratulatory delegation, while Chinese State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan represented the Chinese government. Russian Prime Minister Victor Zubkov attended the inauguration ceremony. Besides the top-ranking leaders, almost all foreign ambassadors stationed in Seoul were in attendance.

"In order to ensure that our economic engine runs smoothly, we will work to acquire a safe and stable supply of resources and energy. Moreover, we shall take the lead in environment-friendly international cooperation," said Lee.

"As befitting our economic size and diplomatic capacity, our diplomacy will contribute to promoting and protecting universal values. Korea will actively participate in the United Nation's peacekeeping operations as well as enlarge its official development assistance."

After delivering the inaugural address for about 30 minutes, Lee exchanged greetings with distinguished domestic and foreign guests and saw off the outgoing president, Roh Moo-hyun.

Ahead of the inaugural ceremony, Lee's presidential tenure formally began at midnight Sunday in accordance with the Constitution. Signaling the start of Lee's tenure, 17 civic representatives rang the Bosingak bell in downtown Seoul 33 times at midnight Sunday.

Lee was to hold separate dinner meetings at the National Assembly and Cheong Wa Dae on Monday with domestic and foreign guests. He was also to attend a congratulatory South Korea-China-Japan joint concert slated to take place at the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts in downtown Seoul Monday night.


SEOUL, Feb. 25 (Yonhap)