By Park Song-wu
Staff Reporter

Underlining the importance of the traditional ties of Seoul and Washington, Lee Hai-chan assumed the office of Prime Minister at a ceremony held in the central government complex on Wednesday.

``The government should push forward strong policies for peace and prosperity in North-East Asia under the basis of a developed inter-Korea relations and a stable ties between South Korea and the United States,’’ Lee said at his inauguration speech.

He said the government will do its best to keep all Korean nationals safe from the threats of war and terrorism, but didn’t elaborate on how to do so. Due to Kim Sun-il’s death in Iraq last week, Lee was expected to mention his plan to prevent the recurrence of such incidences.

On domestic issues, the fifth-term lawmaker of the ruling Uri Party said he will try to carry out President Roh Moo-hyun’s two most important agenda of reforming the government and eradicating corruption.

``It is the best time for the officialdom to outgrow its former self because this is the timing for the participatory government to begin its second term,’’ Lee said in his inauguration speech.

Roh is considered to have entered the second term in his five-year tenure as he had survived the unprecedented impeachment trial, which began with his alleged election law violations in March.

Lee, who has rooted his political career in the democracy movement, is expected to take up the role of Roh’s top liaison officer with the National Assembly and will push Roh’s reform agenda in the Assembly that is now under the control of the Uri Party. Sources have already said Roh will not appoint a senior secretary for political affairs any more.

He passed the floor vote in the Assembly a day earlier with a resounding approval of 200. Only 84 voted against, with five invalid. The ruling Uri Party has 152 affiliated lawmakers, a majority in the 299-member Assembly.

Lee, 52, is allowed to maintain his post as lawmaker, but he is not supposed to perform legislative activities in the parliament, according to the conventional rule.

im@koreatimes.co.kr