Seoul mayor hosts online inauguration

Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon vowed to become a “welfare mayor” in an unusual online inaugural ceremony on Wednesday, stressing that welfare is not a privilege but a right.

“Regardless of where people live in northern or southern parts of Seoul, I will do my best to guarantee that every citizen can have an equal quality of life and the minimum level of welfare,” Park said in his inaugural speech.

Park also said that now is the time that welfare drives growth and that welfare is the “best savings with the highest rate of return” and the “best investment for the future.”

The former liberal civic activist was elected the mayor of the capital in the Oct. 26 by-election called after the former mayor resigned.

His online inaugural ceremony was a rare event in the history of government and politics as most inaugurals had been held at large halls with prominent guests attending.

Park said the reason he chose the online inauguration is because he thought the ceremony should be for citizens and not for him at a time the city government faces a mountain of challenges.

Park opened the event with a greeting, “citizens are mayors,” broadcast live on the city website, major portals and Internet TV channels from 11 a.m.

Park played host in his 40-minute inaugural ceremony and then went outside the city hall to meet citizens in person who couldn’t watch the ceremony online.

He allowed photo journalists to shoot the inside of the mayor’s office for the first time in 65 years since the Seoul mayor was first appointed in 1946 and tour his office including the bathroom and bedroom hidden.

Stepping inside the office, Park showed a wall with a covered with Post-its. “This is where I like the most in my office, where I look at frequently,” Park said, looking at the wall of Post-it notes with citizens’ wishes written on them.

Park invited city council speaker Huh Kwang-tae and other members, vice mayors and directors in charge of welfare and safety of the city as guests to the event.

Park and Huh stressed cooperation and communication between the city and city council as they are like “two wheels” of a cart that should work together for citizens.

Being active on social networking sites, Park finalized the online ceremony by checking online messages from citizens on Twitter, Facebook and his homepage.

Earlier in the morning, Park met Kim Du-kwan, governor of South Gyeongsang Province, whom Park calls his mentor in the field of sustainable development balanced with welfare and environment, and signed a joint statement of sustainable development.

They vowed to cooperate in city and provincial affairs, revitalizing local economy and expanding new jobs.

By Lee Woo-young  (wylee@heraldcorp.com)