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| President Moon Jae-in and first lady Kim Jung-sook wave to citizens as they leave a swearing-in ceremony at the National Assembly, Seoul, Wednesday. / Yonhap |
Moon pledges to become 'president for all the people'
By Kim Rahn
President Moon Jae-in took the oath of office Wednesday, and offered to visit Pyongyang if conditions were met to help resolve the deadlock over North Korea's nuclear and missile programs.
In a message to the people delivered at the National Assembly, he said he would also go to Washington as soon as possible if necessary.
To address security problems on the Korean Peninsula, Moon said after taking the oath, "I'll fly to Washington, Beijing and Tokyo soon if necessary. And I'll go to Pyongyang if conditions are met. I'll do everything I can for peace on the peninsula."
Suh Hoon, the nominee for National Intelligence Service chief, reiterated Moon's remark.
"Relations between the two Koreas have been strained," Suh told reporters at Cheong Wa Dae after being nominated to the post. "It may be premature to talk about an inter-Korean summit. But still, such a summit is needed. The president may visit Pyongyang only when the visit can play a catalytic role in relieving military tension on the peninsula and resolving the nuclear deadlock."
Earlier this year, Moon said he would visit Pyongyang before Washington, and this remark was attacked by presidential rivals who claimed he was a North Korea sympathizer. Moon later said he had meant he could go to Pyongyang after sufficient prior discussion with the U.S. and Japan if it would help resolve the North's nuclear issue.
Regarding his plan for a prompt visit to Washington, it is expected the two countries will also seek a summit as early as possible. Elected heads of the two countries have not had contact for almost half a year following the change of president in the U.S., and the corruption scandal that led to the impeachment and removal from office of former President Park Geun-hye.
For the deployment of a U.S. Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) battery here and China's retaliatory measures against it, Moon said he would seriously discuss the issue with the U.S. and China.
During his election campaign, Moon kept saying that the new government should deal with the THAAD issue, not the Park administration, adding it required National Assembly approval and a public consensus.
National unity
The new president also called for national unity, trying to embrace the opposition parties and conservative voters who did not support him.
"I promise: May 10 of 2017 will be recorded in history as the day when true national unity began," he said. "From now on, I will become a president for all the people. Those who did not support me are also people of the country. I'll serve them."
To make Korea a fair and transparent country, he said he would root out the authoritarian presidential culture, limit presidential power and make inspection bodies totally independent from politics.
Moon said he would make efforts to create jobs, reform chaebol, eradicate corrupt ties between politics and business, and resolve regional and generational disputes. "In the Moon government, people will have equal opportunities, fair due process and righteous results."
Earlier in the day, Moon visited the leaders of four opposition parties whose candidates he competed with — the Liberty Korea Party, the Bareun Party, the People's Party and the Justice Party.
This was the first time for a new president to visit the opposition parties' headquarters, showing his will to achieve national unity especially after the divide between conservatives and liberals during the election.
Moon told them he would communicate and negotiate with them as "partners" in managing state affairs during his five years in office.
The new leader said he would form his government under the principle of "grand unity" and fairness and seek the opposition parties' cooperation, saying, "It takes two to tango."
"Politics should show unity to the people, not conflict and schisms," he said.
Moon also said he would share important security information with the opposition parties.
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