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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Tuesday, October 14, 2003

ROK president Roh Moo-hyun puts job on the line

South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun Monday proposed holding a December referendum on his rule and vowed to step down if the confidence vote went against him.


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South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun Monday proposed holding a December referendum on his rule and vowed to step down if the confidence vote went against him.

Deepening a self-inflicted political crisis that has stunned foes and friends alike, Roh told parliament he had lost confidence in his ability to carry out his duties because of political infighting and media hostility.

Following up on impromptu comments on Friday and Saturday in which he vowed to put his job on the line, Roh said he favoured a date around December 15 for a referendum to seek a renewed mandate for his presidency amid a political funding scandal.

It was not immediately clear whether his timetable was feasible, and legal scholars were divided about whether Roh's plan was constitutional.

There were several interpretations of what had prompted Roh to take drastic domestic political action now.

"I reached a situation in which I cannot conduct the presidency," he said in the televized speech, lamenting a weak political base and hostile media. "I have no confidence in doing my job under this situation."

South Korea's main stock index closed down a shade, but the referendum announcement had little impact.

Roh, elected last December to a single five-year term, said that if he lost the referendum he would hold a presidential vote at the same time as an April parliamentary election.

"This is not without legal disputes, but if we achieve a political agreement, (a referendum) should be possible," he said.

Article 72 of South Korea's Constitution says: "The President may submit important policies relating to diplomacy, national defence, unification and other matters relating to the national destiny to a national referendum if he deems it necessary."

Newspaper editorials were scathing in denouncing Roh for destabilizing his country, but opinion surveys suggested the president would win a referendum. A Hankook Ilbo survey of 1,000 people taken on Saturday showed 52.4 per cent would vote for Roh and 39.2 per cent would not.

Roh's decision got a cool response from the main political parties, who accused him of trying to shift blame to parliament for his aide's involvement in a big funding scandal.


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