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SEOUL: Former businessman Lee Myung Bak took office as South
Korea’s president Monday, promising economic revival for his
nation and a better life for impoverished North Korea if it scraps
its nuclear drive.
“We must move from the age of ideology into
the age of pragmatism,” the conservative leader announced as he
was inaugurated for a single five-year term following a decade of
left-leaning rule.
The colorful open-air ceremony in near-freezing
weather was attended by some 50,000 guests, including US Secretary
of State Condoleezza Rice and Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda.
Lee, 66, is the first president from a business
background in a nation that has been ruled largely by ex-generals or
former rights activists during its turbulent 60-year history.
He paid tribute to the economic miracle which
followed the devastation of the 1950 to ‘53 Korean War but
stressed South Korea must find a new growth engine.
“We are at the crossroads where the destiny of
the nation over the next 60 years will be determined,” Lee said in
a speech after swearing the oath of office.
“I hereby declare the year 2008 as the
starting year for the advancement of the Republic of Korea,” he
added, using the formal name of the nation founded in 1948.
Lee won a record victory margin in December’s
presidential election with his “Economy, First!” pledge.
The former construction chief executive officer
and Seoul mayor, nicknamed “The Bulldozer” for his forcefulness,
has vowed to boost growth, cut high youth unemployment and raise
competitiveness in the face of challenges from China and Japan.
“Our number one concern is how to find a job
after graduation,” said student Yu Byung Kwan, one of thousands of
members of the public chosen by Internet lottery to attend the
ceremony.
Lee stressed his practical approach would apply
both to the economy and to dealing with his nuclear-armed communist
neighbor.
He expressed willingness to meet North Korean
leader Kim Jong Il whenever necessary and said his attitude to
inter-Korean relations “will be pragmatic, not ideological.”
Lee reiterated promises of massive economic
aid if the North fully scraps its nuclear weapons “and chooses
the path to openness.”
After a decade-long “sunshine” engagement
policy with North Korea, seen by critics as a one-way street, Lee
wants to tie South Korean aid more closely to nuclear disarmament.
The South’s 680,000-strong military was put on
alert “against any possible contingencies,” the Joint Chiefs of
Staff office said, an apparent reference to North Korea, which has
yet to comment on the new administration in the South.
Lee also promised a stronger strategic alliance
with decades-old ally the United States, and better relations with
China, Japan and Russia.
The new president was to hold talks later in the
day with Fukuda as well as with Rice, who is touring the region to
try to end an impasse in a six-nation deal on scrapping the
North’s nuclear programs.
But it was the economy that was the focus for
much of his speech.
“Economic revival is our most urgent task,”
he stressed. “Our nation’s competitiveness has fallen and
instability in the resource and financial markets threatens our
economy.”
He said South Korea’s middle- class had
“crumbled” and the lives of ordinary people were becoming
harder. The country was also rapidly becoming an aging society
because of a record low birthrate.
“New engines of growth must emerge assuredly,
the economy grow vigorously, and more jobs be created,” he added,
pledging to start by slimming down the government.
He promised privatization, tax cuts and major
deregulation among other business-friendly policies aimed at raising
the growth rate from around 5 percent last year to 7 percent by
2013.
“Opening the market to the foreign sector is
an unavoidable mega-trend,” he said, vowing to pursue free trade
pacts.
South Koreans gave their new leader a generally
warm welcome.
“I greet a president who is willing to work
hard for our economy,” said Lee Yong Sup, 46. “We need a fresh
start. I believe he can do it.”
-- AFP
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