President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol is flying a paper airplane to wish for the successful bid of the 2030 Busan World Expo at the 2030 Busan World Expo Bid Support Rally held at the Busan Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Jin-gu, Busan on the 22nd, along with guests including Choi Tae-won, Chairman of the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
[Asia Economy Reporter Bu Aeri] The Presidential Inauguration Preparation Committee is busily moving ahead in anticipation of the inauguration ceremony of President-elect Yoon Seok-yeol on the 10th of next month. The committee faced various difficulties even before the ceremony, including controversies over inviting the world star BTS and issues surrounding the emblem.
About 41,000 Guests to be Invited to the Inauguration Ceremony
According to the committee on the 23rd, the total number of invitees for the inauguration ceremony has been finalized at 41,000. This number was increased from the original plan due to the easing of COVID-19 quarantine guidelines. Kim Yeon-ju, spokesperson for the committee, explained, "The specific numbers for general participation and special invitations to citizens are still under discussion." In past inaugurations, about 70,000 attended former President Park Geun-hye’s ceremony, and about 50,000 attended former President Lee Myung-bak’s. President Moon Jae-in, who was elected in the presidential election held after Park’s impeachment, held a simplified ceremony inviting about 500 people at the National Assembly’s Rotunda Hall.
Former President Park Geun-hye and the late President Roh Moo-hyun’s wife, Kwon Yang-sook, are also expected to be invited. Spokesperson Kim said, "President-elect Yoon personally expressed his intention to visit former President Park and invite her, so there is no clearer expression of intent than that," adding, "If necessary, Chairman Park Joo-sun of the Inauguration Preparation Committee may directly announce the invitation or deliver the invitation letter, keeping all possibilities open." Regarding the families of former presidents, Kim added, "Invitations are extended to the families of former presidents according to precedent."
Kim Yeon-ju, Spokesperson for the Presidential Inauguration Preparation Committee [Image source=Yonhap News]
At midnight on the day of the inauguration, a bell-ringing ceremony at Bosingak will mark the start of the term. In the morning, a simple congratulatory event will be held in front of President-elect Yoon’s residence in Seocho-dong, followed by a memorial visit to the National Cemetery. A pre-ceremony event will take place in the front yard of the National Assembly building in Yeouido, Seoul, and the main ceremony will begin upon President-elect Yoon’s arrival. In the afternoon, a commemorative event marking the opening of the Yongsan office era, as well as a celebratory banquet and dinner for major domestic figures and foreign guests, will be held according to tradition and precedent.
The budget for the inauguration ceremony is approximately 3.3 billion KRW. Regarding criticism that this is the highest amount ever, spokesperson Kim explained, "Considering the scale of invitations and inflation, every administration has recorded the highest amount in history." According to the committee, the inauguration budgets were about 1.4 billion KRW for former President Kim Dae-jung, 2 billion KRW for former President Roh, 2.4 billion KRW for former President Lee, and 3.1 billion KRW for former President Park.
BTS Invitation Cancelled... New Emblem Unveiled
Initially, the committee discussed having BTS perform at the inauguration ceremony but ultimately decided not to invite them. Earlier, there were various criticisms that BTS was being politically exploited. Regarding the invitation performance, the committee explained, "(President-elect Yoon) has consistently emphasized children, youth, and vulnerable groups, and those organizing the stage also wanted it to be people from our neighbors, so the performance will be composed of neighbors or vulnerable groups close to us, and of course, some performers will appear, but there are things that need to be exposed on the day."
The committee also unveiled a new emblem for the presidential inauguration ceremony. The new emblem symbolizes the Taegeuk, representing the legitimacy of the Republic of Korea, as the vigorous wings of the people reaching toward the future. The new emblem expresses "connection," "promise," and "new hope." The committee stated, "The design simplifies the process of national unity through the inauguration ceremony into the process of connecting, tying, and linking." Previously, on the 11th, the committee had unveiled an emblem design using 'Dongsim-gyeol,' but after controversy arose that it resembled 'Sadongsim-gyeol,' a ritual used for the deceased, they announced plans to upgrade the emblem.
The committee is conducting a "National Hope Video" submission campaign from the 23rd to the 30th to commemorate the presidential inauguration. Chairman Park said, "The 20th presidential inauguration ceremony will be a meaningful event that marks the beginning of a new Republic of Korea and embodies the hopes of the people for unity and prosperity," adding, "Through the National Hope Video campaign, we hope many citizens can share the moment when the new Republic of Korea begins."
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