South Korea: Yoon Suk-yeol sworn in as president, amidst inter-Korean tensions

South Korea on Tuesday swore in its new president Yoon Suk-yeol, who began his five-year term by calling on North Korea to give up its nuclear arsenal in exchange for massive economic aid, as relations between the two neighbors are going through a period of great tension.

Mr Yoon, a 61-year-old conservative, comes to power as increasingly belligerent North Korea has conducted a record 15 missile tests since January, including two last week. Seoul and Washington also suspect it of wanting to resume its nuclear tests soon.

On Tuesday at midnight, the new head of state attended his first briefing as supreme commander of the armies with the heads of the South Korean general staff, in the bunker located under his offices.

After being sworn in at a giant ceremony in Seoul, he called on North Korea to renounce atomic weapons in his inaugural speech.

« If North Korea genuinely embarks on a process of complete denuclearization, we will present a bold plan that will significantly strengthen the North Korean economy and improve the quality of life of its people, » he promised.

– Dialogue offer –

« North Korea’s nuclear weapons programs pose a threat, not only to our security but also to that of Northeast Asia, » the new president continued. « The door to dialogue will remain open so that we can peacefully resolve this threat. »

« Today we are facing multiple crises, » he added, citing the Covid-19 pandemic, problems in the global supply chain and conflicts across the planet which he said « throw a great shadow over us ».

But « Koreans have never given up. We have become stronger and wiser, » he said.

For Park Won-gon, a professor at Ewha University, Mr. Yoon’s offer to help North Korea economically in exchange for giving up nuclear weapons is an « outdated » concept.

« Since 2009, North Korea has been saying that it will not give up its nuclear weapons against economic incentives, » Park told AFP, adding that « Yoon’s comment will only irritate Pyongyang, who will take it for an attack.

– « Crude boy » –

The president has promised a tougher foreign policy for his country, the world’s 10th largest economy, after the failed attempts at rapprochement with the North that marked the mandate of his predecessor Moon Jae-in.

In the wake of his electoral victory, Mr. Yoon pledged to « deal with severity » the threat posed by the regime of Kim Jong Un.

During his election campaign, he had called Kim Jong Un a « rude boy », throwing to voters: « if you give me a chance, I will teach him good manners ».

Mr. Yoon had also called for a stronger relationship with his American ally. President Joe Biden is expected in South Korea at the end of May.

Elected narrowly in March, Mr. Yoon, a former prosecutor new to politics, takes office with a popularity rate of barely 41%, one of the lowest in the history of South Korean democracy for a start. tenure, according to a recent Gallup poll. While his leftist predecessor Moon Jae-in’s approval rating is still 44%.

The main reason for Mr Yoon’s unpopularity appears to be his decision to move the presidential office from the Blue House in northern Seoul to the former Defense Ministry in the center of the capital.

This hasty and costly move shocked public opinion. His detractors consider it useless and even dangerous for the security of the president and the country.

Mr Yoon considers the Blue House, a site used by Japan’s colonial administration from 1910 to 1945, a « symbol of imperial power ». He argues that the move will ensure a more democratic presidency.

The grounds of the Blue House will be open to the public as a park. During the investiture ceremony, images of walkers strolling through the enclosure formerly closed to the public were broadcast live.

The ceremony took place in front of the National Assembly, with army bands, soldiers in ceremonial dress, around 40,000 guests and a 21-gun salute.

It is by far the most expensive ever organized with a budget of 3.3 billion won (2.5 million euros).