When does the presidential elect from the 6·3 presidential election officially become the 'president'? To answer that, the official term of the 21st President-elect begins at the moment the 'decision of elect' is passed in the National Election Commission's general meeting, which will be held between 7 a.m. and 9 a.m. on the 4th.
National Election Commission Chairman Noh Tae-aak (Supreme Court Justice) will declare, 'The 21st President-elect is 000,' at the time he taps the gavel. Afterwards, the certificate of election will be delivered by the representative of the president-elect.
Moreover, this presidential election is a by-election due to the impeachment of former President Yoon Suk-yeol, and there will be no 'presidential transition committee process.' On the 4th, the newly elected president will have to go through the two-month transition process that past elects experienced, as well as the schedule for the first day in office.
From the moment the National Election Commission declares the election confirmation, the newly elected president will automatically inherit 'military command authority.' The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff will report to the president on the transfer of military command authority, military readiness, and developments concerning North Korea.
The new president will likely begin with a visit to the National Cemetery of Korea, as past presidents have done. The inauguration ceremony, which officially announces the new government, will be held around noon in the Rotunda Hall of the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, in a brief manner. The president will conduct an inaugural election with the attendance of the heads of five departments, representatives of each political party, and ministers. Through the inaugural address, the president will outline the new government's policy direction and governance approach.
In the afternoon, the president is expected to consult with leaders of major countries from the presidential office. Regardless of who becomes president, the new president will use the Yongsan Presidential Office for the time being. Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party of Korea candidate, has already stated his intention to return to the Blue House, but due to the need for renovations at the Blue House, he decided to stay at the Yongsan Presidential Office for now. Kim Moon-soo, the People Power Party candidate, also said he would continue to use the Yongsan Presidential Office if he became president.
In particular, the new president is expected to announce the appointments of major cabinet positions, including the Prime Minister, upon taking office. In 2017, President Moon Jae-in announced the candidates for Prime Minister and Director of the National Intelligence Service, followed by the appointments of the presidential secretary and the chief of security on the day of his inauguration.
However, the vice prime minister and Minister of Education Lee Joo-ho is currently acting in the prime minister's role, which has the authority of 'recommendation of ministers.' If this vice prime minister resigns, the new president will need to appoint a new prime minister. In that case, the new prime minister will recommend the appointment of ministers.
In fact, during the Moon Jae-in administration, after receiving the resignation of then-Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn, only the announcement of minister candidates was made, and then the newly appointed Lee Nak-yon exercised the appointment authority after passing the National Assembly confirmation process.