[Yoon Suk-yeol Elected] Yoon Visits National Cemetery After Call with Biden... Official Schedule Begins

First Official Schedule Immediately After Election
Visited National Cemetery with Key Figures, Wrote 'A Nation of Unity and Prosperity' in Guestbook

President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol is writing in the guestbook after paying respects at the National Seoul Memorial Cemetery in Dongjak-gu, Seoul on the 10th. (Photo by Yonhap News)

[Asia Economy Reporters Bomryeong Geum, Youngwon Kim] President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol visited the National Seoul Memorial Cemetery on the 10th as his first official schedule to pay respects to the patriotic martyrs. Around 4 a.m. that day, when broadcasters reported his victory as 'certain,' he moved from his residence to Yeouido, during which he expressed his thoughts on winning and had a phone call with U.S. President Joe Biden, spending a nonstop time before his first schedule.

At 10:35 a.m., President-elect Yoon visited the National Memorial Cemetery with Lee Jun-seok, leader of the People Power Party, Kwon Young-se, head of the election campaign headquarters, and other key figures. This followed the existing precedent, as former Presidents Roh Moo-hyun, Lee Myung-bak, Park Geun-hye, and Moon Jae-in all paid respects at the cemetery as their first official schedule after election. Yoon’s spouse, Kim Geon-hee, did not accompany him on this occasion. After paying respects, Yoon wrote in the guestbook, "Together with the great people, I will build a nation of unity and prosperity."

Originally, Yoon planned to pay respects at the cemetery at 10 a.m., but the schedule was delayed as he had a phone call with President Moon Jae-in at 9:10 a.m. and another call with President Biden around 10:10 a.m. The call with President Biden was arranged about five hours after Yoon’s acceptance speech at the National Assembly that morning. Although the call was scheduled for the 11th, it was conducted that morning at the request of the U.S. side. Due to this, Yoon was unable to pay respects at the presidential gravesite at the cemetery and moved on to the next schedule.

Before carrying out his first official schedule, Yoon had a hectic time. Around 3:25 a.m., when the 'victory certain' sign appeared, he left his residence in Seocho-gu, Seoul, before 4 a.m. and visited the People Power Party’s vote counting situation room set up at the National Assembly. After his victory was confirmed, party leader Lee and other party leadership, as well as lawmakers and party officials in the situation room, joined hands and shouted "Manse" (long live) three times, celebrating the joy of victory.

In his subsequent national thank-you speech, he emphasized 'cooperation' with the Democratic Party and 'national unity.' Yoon said, "I believe this victory is a victory of the great people," adding, "Once I officially take office as president, I will respect the constitutional spirit and the National Assembly, cooperate with the opposition, and serve the people well."

He also mentioned the merger with the People’s Party. He said, "I hope the People Power Party and the People’s Party will complete the merger soon, broaden their outreach, gain wider public support, listen to the people’s opinions, and become a very excellent and mature party. I ask for your cooperation and support."

After the cemetery schedule, Yoon visited the auditorium on the first basement floor of the National Assembly Library at 11 a.m. to deliver his acceptance speech. He stated, "From now on, I will trust only the people and follow only the will of the people." Later, at noon, he met with Presidential Chief of Staff Yoo Young-min and Senior Secretary for Political Affairs Lee Cheol-hee at the People Power Party headquarters in Yeouido. At 2 p.m., he is scheduled to express gratitude to those who have worked hard at the election campaign headquarters’ disbandment ceremony.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.