“I apologize to the people for this disgraceful matter,” Roh said. “Once the prosecution’s investigation [of Choi] is over, I will ask for the people’s vote of confidence regarding this and other accumulating public suspicions, regardless of what the results of the investigation may be.”

"Wherever the results of the investigation may go, the people won't think him unrelated, Roh said. "Ten mouths wouldn't be enough for me to accept responsibility if [Choi] has done anything wrong."

"I have given up on all authoritative means, and moral confidence alone will be the strength with which I lead affairs of state," he said. "Leading state affairs in this kind of unsure atmosphere would be a considerable burden to the people."

As to the timing of a confidence measure, the president said it should happen when it would mean the least vacuum and confusion in government affairs. "But I don't want to delay it for long, and at the latest would like to put myself to confidence around the time of the National Assembly election."

In the meantime, he promised that the directions and principles he is applying in running the country "won't waiver in the least, and I will fulfill my duties to the fullest."

About the means of going about a confidence measure, he said that he had "given thought to a national vote," but that the constitution limits such referendums to issues of security, so he "doesn't know if that would be appropriate." Controversy can be expected in the coming months, since Roh went on to say that he will put the issue of how to go about it to public discussion.

Article 72 of the constitution limits national referendums to set areas. "The president may submit important policies relating to diplomacy, national defense, unification and other matters relating to the national destiny to a national referendum if he deems it necessary."

Grand National Party Chairman Choe Byung-yul is saying that the holding of a confidence measure "is now established fact," and that "as long as the president has told the people of his decision, we would hope he deals with the matter in a swift and most open and aboveboard manner."

Choe also said that the party's dominant internal view is that under the country's current legal framework, "a national referendum would be the only way," and that "we think there should be no legal problem."

The GNP spokesman Park Jin said that "If President Roh is trying to bet he can gloss over the situation and avoid responsibility for failed governance ahead of next year's National Assembly election, the people will never forgive him."

Park Sang-chun, spokesman for the Millennium Democratic Party, called Roh's announcement "a political gamble with the people." He said it would be best to have any such measure completed as soon as possible, "to stop the confusion."

Chung Dong-chea of the People's Participatory and Unity Party said he "sees this as a resolve to engineer a strict moral rearmament, and in doing so have a fresh start in running the country and create a new social atmosphere." At the same time, though, Chung said that his party would oppose the measure.

By Sung-ho Youn

(englishnews@chosun.com )