S. Korean president starts new year with visit to national cemetery

SEOUL, Jan. 1 (Yonhap) -- President Lee Myung-bak visited the national cemetery
in Seoul Thursday in his first official act of the new year, asking people to
have "hope and courage."
Lee was accompanied by Prime Minister Han Seung-soo, 15 other Cabinet members and
senior presidential aides.
After paying tribute to fallen soldiers and others who were killed during their
service to the country, Lee wrote in a visitors' book, "Let's all go forward with
hope and courage in the New Year."
The group then headed to the presidential office and had rice cake soup, Korea's
traditional New Year's Day dish, according to Cheong Wa Dae officials.
After breakfast, Prime Minister Han and the others joined in the cheer, "A crisis
is an opportunity," they added. Han was apparently referring to the economic
trouble now gripping South Korea and other nations.
The president plans to give pep talks over phone to South Korean soldiers abroad
and officials at the soon-to-be-opened Naro Space Center in Koheung, South Jeolla
Province.
lcd@yna.co.kr
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