[The 300] President Lee Jae-myung’s “National Appointment Ceremony” will take place at Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul on the 15th. During the ceremony, a performance will feature President Lee receiving the “Certificate of Light” from 80 citizen representatives.
On the 14th, Kang Yoo-jung, the Presidential Office spokesperson, briefed from the Yongsan Presidential Office, stating, “The National Appointment Ceremony commemorates the birth of a people’s sovereign government that overcame illegal constitutional amendments and rebellion. It is a moment where citizens, as the protagonists and sovereign entities of democracy, directly appoint the president as their devoted servant.”
The National Appointment Ceremony is part of President Lee’s inauguration events. Although his official term began on June 4th with an oath of office at the National Assembly, he started his duties without a separate inauguration ceremony.
The ceremony will commence on the evening of the 15th with 80 citizen representatives stepping onto a circular stage set up at the center of Gwanghwamun Square, known as a place for public communication and unity. Spokesperson Kang stated, “The 80 citizen representatives include individuals who achieved global accomplishments in fields such as democracy, economy, growth, science and technology, culture, and sports over the 80 years since independence, as well as ordinary citizens who have supported our daily lives and those who have worked towards a better world.”
These representatives will place certificates they have written on a large cube on stage. When President Lee and First Lady Kim Hye-kyeong, along with four citizen representatives, place the certificates, the lights will illuminate, completing the “Certificate of Light.”
The four citizen representatives joining President Lee on stage are: Mok Chang-gyun, son of Mok Yeon-wook, an independence fighter born on August 15, 1945; Captain Seok Hae-gyun, who was injured in the “Dawn of Aden” operation by the Cheonghae Unit in 2011, along with Dr. Lee Guk-jong, who performed surgery on a North Korean soldier injured during a defection at Panmunjom in 2017; Lee Yeon-su, CEO of NC AI, involved in an “AI Foundation Model Project”; and filmmaker Heo Ga-young, who won first prize in the student category at this year’s Cannes Film Festival with the movie “First Summer.”
During the event, President Lee will express his commitment to serve the people more diligently as a dedicated worker of the nation’s sovereignty. The cube displaying the Certificate of Light will be moved to the presidential office for exhibition after the ceremony.
Spokesperson Kang added, “In addition to the 80 citizen representatives, about 3,000 citizens have been specially invited to the appointment ceremony,” and noted that former President Moon Jae-in and his wife, the family of the late President Roh Moo-hyun, religious leaders, and representatives from political, economic, and labor sectors will attend.
According to the Presidential Office, the event is designed for participation by all citizens of South Korea. Anyone can come and watch the ceremony from outside the security fences.
Kang stated, “The entire process will be broadcast live,” and expressed hope that many citizens will participate and enjoy the celebration, which encompasses the desires and hopes of the sovereign people.