Untitled Document
 In
less than three days, you will witness history in the making.
On February 25, Korea will swear in Park Geun-hye as the country’s
first female president. The inauguration ceremony will
be held in the square in front of the National Assembly in Yeouido,
Seoul.
About 60,000 guests?including world leaders, celebrities, K-Pop stars,
and ordinary citizens?will attend this historic event. More people
from all around the world are expected to watch the ceremony. With
all eyes on Korea, Park said she wanted to use this opportunity to
promote Korean culture abroad.
“The ceremony is a good opportunity to advertise Korea,” she said
last month. “I hope the beauty of our traditional culture and image
as an IT powerhouse can be broadcast
globally.”
 Last
month, it was confirmed that Psy, Korea’s biggest cultural export,
will perform during the ceremony. The horse-riding rapper made history
of his own with his global hit “Gangnam Style.” In December, the wacky music video became
the first to reach one billion views on YouTube. Other K-Pop stars
are also expected to perform.
The inauguration committee has chosen “Opening
the New Era of Hope” as the event’s slogan and “Unity, Progress and Into the Lives
of the People” as its theme.
“The words reflect the president-elect’s will to enter into a new
era of happiness in terms of both mentally and economically along with the people,” said
Kim Jin-sun, who heads the committee.
 Park is
the daughter of Korea’s longest ruling leader, Park Chung-hee. Despite
her privileged upbringing?she lived in the
presidential Blue House as a child?her life has been marred by personal
tragedies. Her mother was
killed by a pro-North Korean gunman in 1974. Five years later, her
father was killed by his spy chief. She retired from public view for
nine years until finally returning to politics in 1998.
Her five-year presidential term will officially
begin at midnight on February 25. Good luck President Park! |
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