Unprecedented inauguration ceremony troubles ministry

Government agencies are facing an unexpected challenge over the inauguration ceremony for the new president, which will take place on a different date.

Since the last revision of the Constitution in 1987, the presidential inauguration ceremony has been held on Feb. 25 at the square in front of the National Assembly building in central Seoul every time a new president is elected. Roh Tae-woo, Kim Young-sam, Kim Dae-jung, Roh Moo-hyun, Lee Myung-bak and Park Geun-hye were all inaugurated in this way.

The ceremonies followed a presidential election at the end of December the previous year and the consequent transition period from the old to the new administrations.

However, Korea will hold this year’s presidential election May 9 following the upholding of former President Park’s impeachment. The new president’s term will begin right after the election without a transition period.

This unexpected situation is pressuring the related agencies to come up with a new ceremony plan, with the time and location being undecided yet.

“We are racking our brains,” said an official from the Ministry of the Interior, which is in charge of the ceremony. “We usually discuss it with the new president’s transition team to show his or her governance philosophy in the ceremony. But we have no partners to discuss things with.”

The location may be the square in front of the Assembly to follow precedent; but it could be another place if the new president wants a simple ceremony.

Regarding the time, the ministry plans to hold the ceremony as soon as possible after the election, because the Constitution states “the president should take the oath upon inauguration.”

It may be nearly impossible to invite foreign dignitaries such as heads of states considering the tight schedule: the ministry needs to send the invitations at least a month before the ceremony, but, not knowing who will be elected, it would be diplomatically discourteous to send the invitations without the name of the president-elect.

So it is likely that foreign diplomats here will take part in the ceremony on behalf of the heads of their home countries.

Also, there may be no celebration on the eve of the ceremony, after-ceremony events and stamp issuance commemorating the inauguration either.