SEOUL: Saturday's government turmoil may strengthen South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun's will to hold a national referendum on confidence in him. When he abruptly announced on Friday that he will test the South Korean people's trust in him, he himself was also unclear on whether there is a legal basis for such a poll.

"I'm not sure if a national referendum is an adequate method of seeking the people's confidence because of some national security concerns involved," the president said on Friday.

However, at the Saturday press conference where he refused to accept the resignation of the cabinet and his senior aides, he said: "We may be able to revise the National Referendum Law because it does not clearly indicate whether we can call a vote of confidence."

Roh added: "South Korea does not currently have any mechanism for holding referendums, but we can create it."

Roh, who took office in February, said he thought calling a national vote of confidence will be the "surest" way to ask for the public's confidence.

Roh told reporters earlier on Saturday that a revision of the law would allow the government to ask the nation if the people trust the president in connection with a certain state issue.

The South Korean constitution does not permit any legislation to oust an incumbent president with the exception of impeachment supported by two thirds of the National Assembly.

Roh even said he is "ready to step down" if he fails to win enough confidence, adding: "It is more important to establish the political culture of taking responsibility and lead national politics in the right direction than to complete my five-year term."

It seemed that Roh preferred a national referendum as means of examining his performance. If it materializes, Roh will be the first president to hold a referendum since the establishment of the Republic of Korea.

Roh recently had a hard time from political and economic disorder.

Last month, he left the Millennium Democratic Party (MDP) and expressed public support for a political group split from the MDP which was temporarily named the "People's Participatory United New Party."

Roh's departure made the MDP lose its position as the ruling party, resulting in the MDP's turn against the president.

As a result, Roh runs state affairs without the backing of a strong political party. The National Assembly is controlled by the nation's biggest opposition the Grand National Party (GNP), which holds more than half of the seats.

Moreover, Roh was very angry at parliament's rejection of his nomination of the nation's top auditor last month. The MDP and GNP unprecedentedly co-operated to block the nomination.

In the mean time, Roh was also under great pressure from conservative and progressive organizations on the dispatch combat troops to Iraq at the request of Washington.

One month has passed since the United States delivered the request, but Roh is very cautious about the issue and has not yet made a decision on it due to its sensitivity.

His aide's bribery scandal also damaged his reputation. One of his close aides was found to have received some US$1 million after Roh won last year's presidential election.

The South Korean economy has been weak since early this year. The economic growth rate in the second quarter was only 1.9 per cent, the lowest level since late 2000.

The country was also heavily damaged by Typhoon Maemi last month, just as signs of economic recovery were starting to emerge. Maemi cost South Korea 4.78 trillion won (US$4.09 billion) and 130 lives.

Frustrated several times in dealing with state affairs, Roh finally decided to let his people decide on his rule, a move from which he can gain strength.

Xinhua

(China Daily 10/13/2003 page4)