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South Korean crisis deepens

By P. S. Suryanarayana

SINGAPORE Oct. 11. A new South Korean political crisis deepened in Seoul today even as the President, Roh Moo-hyun, stayed firm on his decision to seek the people's vote of confidence in him even as he refused to accept the offers of resignation by the Prime Minister, Goh Kun, as also 18 other Cabinet Ministers and senior presidential secretaries. The crisis, which Mr. Roh sought to manage, was set off by his own announcement on Friday that he would "subject (himself) to the public's judgment upon the completion of (the ongoing) investigations into (certain) allegations about Choi Do-sul'', who was the manager of the President's campaign funds.

Mr. Roh, whose surprise move rocked the South Korean political scene, today indicated that he might seek the modification of the relevant laws so that he could seek the people's endorsement for his continuance in office through a national referendum or some other form of ascertaining the people's level of political confidence in him. It is in this context that he refused to accept the resignations by the Prime Minister and others on the ground that the political controversies had nothing to do with them. Mr. Roh said he "will put this issue to the people before the upcoming general election'' for a new Parliament. Mr. Roh underlined, at a press conference in Seoul today, that he was ready to step down as President "if he were to fail to win enough confidence''.

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