South Korea: President Puts Head on Block

The South Korean president, Roh Moo-hyun, put an electoral gun to his head yesterday by calling for a national referendum in December to judge his record in office.

Admitting he had lost confidence in his ability to lead the country in the face of mounting criticism from the political and media establishment, the former human rights lawyer told parliament that he would be happy to give up power if it helped to reform the country's scandal-plagued politics.

"I have reached a situation in which I cannot conduct the presidency. If the ethical standards of the ruling class of our society can be rectified, then I believe this will be a greater political achievement than what I can accomplish during the remainder of my tenure," he said.

The move - eight months into a five-year presidency - enraged Mr Roh's opponents, dismayed his friends and had constitutional experts scratching their heads about whether the necessary legal changes could be made before the December 15 vote.

Most of the nation's 48 million people find themselves in uncharted democratic waters. After military dictators, they are led by an ultra-democrat who has put his head on the block. With the country in recession, the ruling bloc split and his closest confidant mired in a corruption scandal, Mr Roh's ratings have slipped close to 20%.

But the appeal to the public appears to be working. Polls showed he would win a clear majority, though that could change.