Inauguration to be big festival

By Jun Ji-hye

Pop singer Insooni, center, and other singers rehearse for the 18th presidential inauguration scheduled for Monday at the National Assembly in Seoul, Sunday. Yonhap

Park Geun-hye’s inauguration will be a big festival under the theme of “unity, advancement and people’s livelihood,” with 70,000 guests in attendance.

It will be a star-studded event with performances from artists such as K-pop sensation Psy to world famous soprano Jo Su-mi.

The inauguration of the nation’s first female president will begin with ringing the Bosingak bell 33 times at Jongno at midnight Sunday, the presidential inauguration preparation committee said.

During the day, there will be cultural performances as well as the inauguration ceremony at the National Assembly, and other events at Gwanghwamun and Cheong Wa Dae.

For the bell-tolling ceremony, 18 participants were chosen in consideration of their region and social stratum. To emphasize Park’s desire for national unity, Kim Yong-man, the great grandson of Kim Koo, a late leader of the Korean independence movement against the Japanese colonial occupation, will participate in the bell-ringing.

Park plans to attend cultural performance at the National Assembly from 9:20 a.m. after visiting Seoul National Cemetery in Dongjak-dong.

After performances of “pansori” (traditional Korean narrative song) by virtuoso Kim Young-im and “samulnori” (traditional percussion art) by Kim Duk-soo and his troupe, there will be music representing various eras.

The KBS “Gag Concert” cast, featuring Korea’s top comedians, will perform songs from the 1950s and ‘60s, while trot star Jang Yoon-jung, musical actor Nam Kyung-joo and pop singer Sonya will sing hits from the 1970’s and ‘80’s. More modern hits will be performed by K-pop group JYJ and Psy.

The inauguration will see Park pledge allegiance to the nation, a marching honor guard and an inaugural address. Soprano Jo and baritone Choi Hyun-soo will sing the national anthem.

Park will then move to Gwanghwamun in central Seoul, and take part in an event to open 365 “lucky” bags containing the public’s wishes that have been posted on the presidential transition team’s website.

After reciting the messages, Park will enter Cheong Wa Dae, receiving a welcome from residents of the areas near the presidential office, Cheongun-dong and Hyoja-dong.

From 4 p.m., a party honoring the inauguration will be held at Sejong Center for the Performing Arts at Gwanghwamun with some 1,000 guests from home and abroad, while Cheong Wa Dae will host a dinner for major foreign delegates starting at 7 p.m.