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New S Korean president sworn in New S Korean president sworn in
(about 3 hours later)
Lee Myung-bak has been sworn in as South Korea's president following a landslide victory in December polls. Lee Myung-bak has been sworn in as South Korea's president, following a landslide victory in December's polls.
International dignitaries including Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda and US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice attended the Seoul inauguration.International dignitaries including Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda and US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice attended the Seoul inauguration.
Mr Lee, who heads the conservative Grand National Party, promised to revive his country's economy and take a tougher line towards North Korea.Mr Lee, who heads the conservative Grand National Party, promised to revive his country's economy and take a tougher line towards North Korea.
The former Hyundai executive was last week cleared in a fraud inquiry. The former Hyundai executive was recently cleared over a fraud inquiry.
Nicknamed "The Bulldozer" for his dogged work in business and as mayor of Seoul, Mr Lee said: "Economic revival is our most urgent task." Mr Lee was facing allegations of links to a 2001 share-rigging scandal, for which an ex-business partner of his is on trial.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, he called for summits with North Korea to be held "whenever necessary". 'The bulldozer'
"We must move from the age of ideology into the age of pragmatism," he added. At least 45,000 people attended the inauguration ceremony, to watch 66-year-old Mr Lee succeed Roh Moo-hyun as South Korea's 10th president.
Mr Lee succeeds Roh Moo-hyun for his single five-year term as South Korea's 10th president. He is the first to come from a business background. Nicknamed "the bulldozer" for his dogged work at Hyundai and as mayor of Seoul - and his ability to push through unpopular policies - Mr Lee is the first conservative politician to lead the country in a decade.
During his election campaign he steadfastly denied allegations linking him to a 2001 share-rigging scandal, for which an ex-business partner of his is on trial. He is also the first to come from a business background. Most previous leaders were either ex-generals or former rights activists.
Mr Lee was alleged to have links to the investment firm at the centre of the scandal, but cleared a few days before his inauguration. In his inauguration speech, President Lee said he would lead South Korea to become an advanced nation and would push to revive the country's economic success.
Addressing the crowds, he said: "Economic revival is our most urgent task."
"We must move from the age of ideology into the age of pragmatism," he said, in a veiled criticism of the past administration.
The new president promised to have stronger ties with the United States and take a tougher line on neighbouring North Korea.
After the South's decade-long "sunshine policy" of engagement with the North - which critics have derided for giving unconditional aid while getting little in return - Mr Lee wants to tie South Korean aid more closely to nuclear disarmament.
South Korea's political transition comes amid an improvement in relations between the US and North Korea.
The New York Philharmonic orchestra is due to perform in Pyongyang on Tuesday, becoming the first major US cultural organisation to go to the isolated nation.