Moon Jae-in: South Korea's new president sworn in

<h1 class="story-body__h1"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-size: 24pt;">■</span><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-size: 24pt;"></span><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-size: 24pt;">Moon Jae-in: South Korea's new president sworn in</span><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-size: 24pt;">      </span>  </h1> <div class="story-body__inner" property="articleBody"><figure class="media-landscape has-caption full-width lead"><span class="image-and-copyright-container"><img width="976" height="650" class="js-image-replace" alt="South Korea's President Moon Jae-in greets his supporters and neighbours as he leaves his house in Seoul, South Korea 10 May 2017" src="https://img1.daumcdn.net/relay/cafe/original/?fname=https%3A%2F%2Fichef.bbci.co.uk%2Fnews%2F660%2Fcpsprodpb%2F16525%2Fproduction%2F_95992419_c16891ac-fa5b-49a7-8e27-4dce1d0e640a.jpg" data-highest-encountered-width="660"><span class="off-screen">Image copyright</span> <span class="story-image-copyright">Reuters</span> </span><figcaption class="media-caption"><span class="off-screen">Image caption</span> <span class="media-caption__text"> Mr Moon was met by supporters and neighbours as he left his house in Seoul on Wednesday </span></figcaption></figure><p class="story-body__introduction">The newly elected president of South Korea, Moon Jae-in, has been sworn in after a decisive election victory.</p><p>He said he would be willing to visit Pyongyang "in the right circumstances".</p><p>The 64-year-old human rights lawyer, known for his liberal views, wants to increase contact with North Korea in a departure from current policy.</p><p>He has also vowed to unify a divided country reeling from <a class="story-body__link" href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-37971085"><u><font color="#0066cc">a corruption scandal</font></u></a> which saw his predecessor impeached, and improve the economy.</p><ul class="story-body__unordered-list"><li class="story-body__list-item"><a class="story-body__link" href="http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-39457385"><u><font color="#0066cc">Big tests ahead for Moon Jae-in</font></u></a></li><li class="story-body__list-item"><a class="story-body__link" href="http://www.bbc.com/news/business-39853234"><u><font color="#0066cc">Economy a priority in S Korean elections</font></u></a></li></ul><p>Mr Moon was sworn in as South Korea's 19th president at the National Assembly building in Seoul, filling a leadership vacuum in the wake of Park Geun-hye's removal.</p><div class="bbccom_slot mpu-ad" id="bbccom_mpu_1_2_3" aria-hidden="true"><div class="bbccom_advert"> </div></div><p>The Democratic Party candidate has positioned himself as the man who can move the country on from the scandal, and has pledged to build "a just, united country".</p><p>He has also been critical of the two previous conservative administrations for failing to stop North Korea's weapons development, and has promised to bolster the economy and address youth unemployment, key concerns for voters.</p><hr class="story-body__line"><h2 class="story-body__crosshead">Who is Moon?</h2><figure class="media-landscape has-caption full-width"><span class="image-and-copyright-container"><img width="976" height="680" class="responsive-image__img js-image-replace" alt="New South Korean President Moon Jae-in pays tribute at the National Cemetery in Seoul, South Korea, 10 May 2017." src="https://img1.daumcdn.net/relay/cafe/original/?fname=https%3A%2F%2Fichef.bbci.co.uk%2Fnews%2F624%2Fcpsprodpb%2F11705%2Fproduction%2F_95992417_2e8c6f58-4dac-4026-9111-61abc5f79a21.jpg" data-highest-encountered-width="624" datasrc="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/11705/production/_95992417_2e8c6f58-4dac-4026-9111-61abc5f79a21.jpg"><span class="off-screen">Image copyright</span> <span class="story-image-copyright">EPA</span> </span><figcaption class="media-caption"><span class="off-screen">Image caption</span> <span class="media-caption__text"> Mr Moon also visited the National Cemetery on Wednesday morning to pay his respects to war heroes and past presidents </span></figcaption></figure><ul class="story-body__unordered-list"><li class="story-body__list-item">The son of refugees from North Korea, Mr Moon served in South Korea's special forces before becoming a human rights lawyer.</li><li class="story-body__list-item">Advocates greater dialogue with the North while maintaining pressure and sanctions, in contrast to his predecessor.</li><li class="story-body__list-item">Wants to reform South Korea's family-run conglomerates, known as chaebols, which dominate the economy</li><li class="story-body__list-item">Jailed while a student in the 1970s for leading protests against military ruler Park Chung-hee, Ms Park's father.</li><li class="story-body__list-item">He was a top aide to former liberal President Roh Moo-hyun.</li></ul><p><a class="story-body__link" href="http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-39860158"><u><font color="#0066cc">Who is South Korea's new president?</font></u></a></p><u><font color="#0066cc"><hr class="story-body__line"></font></u><p>Mr Moon's leadership will be closely watched amid high tensions in the region. </p><p>The US and North Korea have traded angry rhetoric in recent weeks, as Pyongyang has carried out repeated missile tests.</p><figure class="media-with-caption"><div class="player-with-placeholder"><img class="media-placeholder player-with-placeholder__image narrative-video-placeholder" src="https://img1.daumcdn.net/relay/cafe/original/?fname=https%3A%2F%2Fichef.bbci.co.uk%2Fimages%2Fic%2F720x405%2Fp052g5xm.jpg"><div class="player-with-placeholder__caption">Media playback is unsupported on your device</div><div class="player-with-placeholder"><div class="media-player-wrapper"><div id="sticky-player-1"><div class="sticky-player__wrapper"><div class="sticky-player__player"><figure class="media-player" 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Press enter to return or tab to continue.</font></u></a></div></div></figure></div><div class="sticky-player__body"><h2 class="sticky-player__headline">Moon Jae-In celebrates becoming South Korea's new president at a victory rally</h2></div><button class="sticky-player__close-button falcon__button"><span class="off-screen">Exit player</span> </button> </div></div><div class="sticky-player__image responsive-image" id="sticky-player-1-placeholder"></div></div></div></div><figcaption class="media-with-caption__caption"><span class="off-screen">Media caption</span>Moon Jae-In celebrates becoming South Korea's new president at a victory rally</figcaption></figure><p>The US, South Korea's most important ally, has congratulated the new president.</p><p>White House press secretary Sean Spicer said the US looked forward to continuing to "strengthen the alliance" and "deepen the enduring friendship and partnership".</p><p>Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said their countries faced common challenges "led by responses to the North Korean issue" but they could "further contribute to peace and prosperity of the region by working together".</p><p>President Xi Jinping said he "always attaches great importance to the relationship between China and South Korea", and that he was "willing to diligently work with" with Mr Moon to ensure both countries benefit, reported Chinese state news agency Xinhua.</p><figure class="media-landscape has-caption full-width"><span class="image-and-copyright-container"><img width="976" height="650" class="responsive-image__img js-image-replace" alt="North Korean Pukguksong-2, also known as KN-15, medium-range or intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM) during a parade for the " src="https://img1.daumcdn.net/relay/cafe/original/?fname=https%3A%2F%2Fichef-1.bbci.co.uk%2Fnews%2F624%2Fcpsprodpb%2FC8E5%2Fproduction%2F_95992415_80a1c13d-a429-40e5-8f76-04a09f3f0366.jpg" data-highest-encountered-width="624" datasrc="https://ichef-1.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/C8E5/production/_95992415_80a1c13d-a429-40e5-8f76-04a09f3f0366.jpg" day="" of="" the="" sun"="" festival="" on="" kim="" il="" sung="" square="" in="" pyongyang,="" north="" korea,="" 15="" april="" 2017."=""><span class="off-screen">Image copyright</span> <span class="story-image-copyright">Reuters</span> </span><figcaption class="media-caption"><span class="off-screen">Image caption</span> <span class="media-caption__text"> Mr Moon will have to manage tense relations with North Korea, which continues to defy UN sanctions with its missile tests </span></figcaption></figure><p>North Korea had previously hinted that Mr Moon was their preferred candidate, but has yet to issue an official response to his victory. </p><p>Final results show Mr Moon took 41.1% of the<a class="story-body__link" href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-39855956"><u><font color="#0066cc"> vote on Tuesday</font></u></a>, while conservative candidate Hong Joon-pyo took 25.5%.</p><p>Centrist Ahn Cheol-soo, widely seen as a strong contender, came third with 21.4%.</p><p><br></p><p>/ from <span class="orb-hilight">Copyright © 2017 BBC.</span> The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.<br></p></div><p><br></p>