Roh defends referendum offer

SEOUL: President Roh Moo-hyun said Thursday he proposed a December referendum because he was unsure whether to resign in the face of a corruption scandal, a local report said.

The president’s comments, reported by South Korea’s Yonhap news agency, came hours after prosecutors arrested a close confidant of the president on bribery charges.

“I wanted to become a conscientious president who can resign if a serious flaw is found” in his government, Roh was quoted as saying by Yonhap. “But since resigning could also be seen as irresponsible, I have decided to ask the people whether they still trust me.”

Yonhap said Roh made the comments at a forum in Seoul, but the presidential office could not immediately confirm the remarks. —AP

Home | Foreign