Roh’s speech to be shortest ever

President-elect Roh Moo-hyun’s inaugural address tomorrow outlining his priorities for his five-year term in office is expected to be around 25 minutes, the shortest in Korean history, members of his transition team said yesterday. Inauguration speeches by past Korean have been marked, critics said, by a slew of empty promises. For example, outgoing President Kim Dae-jung pledged on his inauguration day to clean up Korea’s politics by setting a good example; Mr. Kim has been dogged for much of his term by a series of personally embarrassing corruption scandals. Two of his sons have been convicted of taking bribes.
Lee Nak-yon, Mr. Roh’s spokesman, said the address would focus on reform and national integration, outlining his administration’s agenda in clear, simple language.
A celebration that was to follow the inauguration ceremony was called off out of respect for the hundreds of victims of the subway arson in Daegu last week. Mr. Roh will express his condolences for the arson victims and their families in his address, the transition team said.
Mr. Roh will arrive at the National Assembly for the inauguration ceremony with eight citizens representing diverse segments of the population, the transition team said. Ahn Cheol-su, CEO of Ahn Lab, a maker of computer virus vaccines, and the Reverend Choi Il-do, who works with the homeless in Seoul, are among Mr. Roh’s guests.
Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi of Japan, U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell, Guus Hiddink, former head coach of South Korea’s national soccer team; Supachai Panitchpakdi, director general of the World Trade Organization, and Lee Jong-wook, director general-designate of the World Health Organization, have also been invited to attend.
Bosingak, a bell in central Seoul, will be rung tomorrow at midnight to proclaim the inauguration of the new president.
An Sook-sun, a singer of pansori (a traditional narrative art), the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra, and other musicians will perform at the inauguration, which begins at 11 a.m. at the National Assembly plaza.

by Koh Han-sun