South Korea's President Yoon Suk-yeol has begun his term and is leading the country's first conservative administration in five years.

Yoon became the 20th president of South Korea at midnight on Tuesday, following his victory in the March presidential election. A bell rang in central Seoul, heralding the beginning of his presidency.

Yoon will be formally sworn in before an audience of about 40,000 people during a ceremony scheduled for 11 a.m. He will then outline his policies in an inauguration speech.

Yoon has already revealed his intention to move the presidential office out of Cheong Wa Dae, also known as the Blue House, into what was the defense ministry building.

He has called Cheong Wa Dae a "symbol of imperial power."

In the afternoon, Yoon plans to meet foreign dignitaries visiting South Korea to attend his inauguration ceremony, including Japanese Foreign Minister Hayashi Yoshimasa.

Yoon has pledged to enhance South Korea's deterrence against North Korea, which is advancing its nuclear and missile development programs. He says the policy will be based on the country's alliance with the United States.

In the hope of deepening cooperation, not only with the US but also with Japan, Yoon is eager to mend fences with Tokyo, which Seoul has in recent years clashed with over wartime labor and other issues.