Roh was sworn in before some 45,000 domestic and foreign guests in front of the National Assembly.

Roh, who replaces outgoing president Kim Dae-Jung, took the oath of office at a ceremony outside South Korea's National Assembly building in western Seoul.

"I swear to my people solemnly that I will defend my country, abide by the constitution of my country, and devote myself to the realization of reunification of the Korean Peninsula... I will dutifully to fulfill the president's commitment to my people."

Roh Moo-Hyun, a former human rights lawyer, won the last December's presidential election representing the Millennium Democratic Party (MDP).

Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, Chinese Vice-Premier Qian Qichen, US Secretary of States Colin Powell, Speaker of the Federation Council of Russia's Federal Assembly Sergei Mironov and former South Korean President Kim Dae-jung are among those present at the ceremony.

(Xinhua News Agency February 25, 2003)