Senior Presidential Secretary for Political Affairs Woo Sang-ho on July 28 gives a news briefing at the Office of the President on the Aug. 15 hosting of the "people's appointment ceremony" for President Lee Jae Myung. (Yonhap News)

By Yoon Sojung

The official inauguration ceremony of President Lee Jae Myung is slated for Aug. 15, Liberation Day, at Gwanghwamun Square in downtown Seoul.

Senior Presidential Secretary for Political Affairs Woo Sang-ho on July 28 told a news briefing at the Office of the President in Seoul, "When President Lee on June 4 took an oath to take office without a separate inauguration ceremony, he promised to hold a people's appointment ceremony with the people later."

"The people's appointment ceremony will be held at 8 p.m. on Aug. 15 at Gwanghwamun Square along with a celebration to mark the 80th annual Liberation Day."

The secretary added, "The event will see the people declared as the masters of the country and the president's pledge to the nation to uphold their sovereign will and develop the Republic of Korea into a leading country."

Titled "Grand Festival for National Sovereignty - Building the Future with National Sovereignty on the 80th Anniversary of Liberation" (unofficial), the event will have a representative of the people reading the appointment letter and declaring "I appoint you as my president." This will be followed by cultural performances.

The ceremony's security zone will be reserved for approximately 10,000 invitees. Anyone can attend outside of this area.

Those eligible to enter the security zone include people born in 1945, the year the country was liberated; independence activists and patriots; workers dispatched to Germany and construction workers in the Middle East; staff from companies creating jobs for youth; leading figures in culture and arts; winners of domestic and international sports events; surviving families of victims of social and industrial disasters; and young leaders.

Foreign heads of states are not invited.

"This is an open event that any citizen can participate at Gwanghwamun Square," Secretary Woo said. "We invite all people to the Grand Festival of National Sovereignty."

arete@korea.kr