President Lee to Hold Inauguration Ceremony on August 15
Former Presidents Including Moon Also Invited
Former President Yoon and Spouse, Under Investigation, Excluded
"The Most Open Inauguration Event in History"
President Lee Jae Myung is greeting citizens as he leaves the venue after concluding the town hall meeting "Listening to the Heart of Busan" held at Pukyong National University in Busan on the 25th. Photo by Yonhap News
The Office of the President will hold an inauguration ceremony on August 15, Liberation Day. Approximately 10,000 people, including all former presidents except former President Yoon Suk-yeol and his spouse, will be invited to the event.
Woo Sangho, Senior Presidential Secretary for Political Affairs, held a briefing at the Yongsan Presidential Office on this day and stated, "The inauguration ceremony for President Lee will be held at 8 p.m. on August 15 at Gwanghwamun Square, together with the 80th anniversary celebration of Liberation Day." He explained, "The event is intended to declare that the people are the true owners of the nation, and to reaffirm the president's commitment to serve the will of the sovereign people and to advance Korea as a leading nation." The title of the event is 'Grand Festival of Popular Sovereignty?Building the Future with 80 Years of Liberation and Popular Sovereignty.'
Approximately 10,000 people will be invited to the event. Invitations will be divided into eight categories: ▲ Key figures who have protected and developed Korean history over the 80 years since Liberation in 1945 ▲ Patriots and independence activists ▲ Korean workers dispatched to Germany, export pioneers, and entrepreneurs in new growth sectors ▲ Residents of Goseong County and Marado Island, as well as companies creating social and youth jobs ▲ Leading figures in K-culture and awardees in various sports ▲ Uniformed citizens such as soldiers, police officers, firefighters, as well as veterans and families of victims of national tragedies ▲ Promising talents in the fields of economy, culture, science, arts, and sports ▲ All citizens of the Republic of Korea.
Former presidents, including President Moon Jae-in, are also expected to be invited. Secretary Woo stated, "All former presidents are on the invitation list," and added, "We plan to send out invitations." However, former President Yoon is currently in detention, and Kim Keon-hee is under investigation by a special prosecutor, so they have been excluded from the invitation list. No foreign heads of state have been invited either. Secretary Woo explained, "Since this is not an official inauguration, we did not invite foreign heads of state or high-ranking officials," and added, "There will be a banquet with domestic diplomatic envoys before the event."
The event will begin with cultural and artistic performances from 7:40 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Then, from 8:30 p.m. to 9 p.m., the national inauguration ceremony will be held for 30 minutes. During this time, a citizen will read the letter of appointment, directly appointing President Lee. The title of the letter is 'Appointing You as My President.' The reader will be selected from among citizens with unique backgrounds or stories. After the inauguration ceremony, a congratulatory performance will take place until 9:30 p.m.
Secretary Woo emphasized, "Although the invited guests will be those within the security perimeter, the event is designed so that any citizen of the Republic of Korea can participate and enjoy the festivities outside the designated area," and added, "This will be the most open event in history, allowing the greatest number of citizens to participate in an inauguration."
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