SOUTH KOREA: Bell-tolling ceremony held at midnight to mark the start of the country's first female president Park Geun-hye's presidential term

Record ID: 187231

  • Title: SOUTH KOREA: Bell-tolling ceremony held at midnight to mark the start of the country's first female president Park Geun-hye's presidential term
  • Date: 24th February 2013
  • Summary: SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA (FEBRUARY 25, 2013) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF PERFORMERS PERFORMING KOREA'S TRADITIONAL CIRCLE DANCE AROUND
  • Embargoed: 11th March 2013 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Korea, Republic of
  • Country: South Korea
  • Topics: Arts / Culture / Entertainment / Showbiz,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVADIW046NPCRSZW55KPQYEXK5XW
  • Story Text: A bell-tolling ceremony was held at midnight on Sunday (February 24) to kick off South Korea's first female president Park Geun-hye's five-year term.
    61-year-old Park took executive power just as of midnight Sunday from the outgoing president Lee Myung-bak.
    Her inaugural ceremony comes on Monday (February 25).
    Eighteen people selected by the preparatory committee of the inauguration tolled a bell in a large bell pavilion called 'Bosingak' in downtown Seoul, ringing the launch of the new government led by Park.

    "This bell-tolling ceremony announces the official start of the new president's term. We've selected eighteen people for tolling since she is the 18th president," said Sung Joo-hyun, an administration director of the preparatory committee for the inaugural ceremony.
    People who watched the ceremony said they had high hopes for the new leader.

    "I really congratulate the new president's inauguration. She is the first female president of our country. I hope she will make our country better and create more jobs," said 28-year-old Joo Chang-don.

    "I hope she will make a happy country where people can live happily. I do have faith in her. Way to go, President Park Geun-hye!" said 63-year-old Im Bo-seon.
    The country's political transition comes amid escalating tensions on the Korean peninsula after North Korea conducted its third nuclear test earlier this month, in defiance of U.N. resolutions and drew harsh international condemnation.
    On Tuesday (February 19), Pyongyang threatened South Korea with "final destruction" during a debate at the U.N. Conference on Disarmament.
    South Korea is still technically at war with North Korea after a 1950-53 civil war ended in a mere truce.
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