Seoul, Oct 13: South Korean President Roh Moo-Hyun today proposed a national referendum on his rule around December 15, indicating he would resign and call new presidential elections if defeated. "I think it is right to have a referendum ... And I would like the timing to be around December 15," Roh said in a policy address to the National Assembly, South Korea's Parliament.

"If I fail to win the vote of confidence, it would be preferable to hold the next presidential election simultaneously with parliamentary elections on April 15 next year." If the referendum goes against him, Roh said, he would resign in February, one year after taking office.

"I can resign around February 15 next year and 60 days later we can hold the presidential elections together with the April 15 general elections," the president said. Roh's decision to stage a confidence vote, unprecedented in South Korea, comes as his government faces pressure to turn a page on recent corruption allegations and start anew with a fresh public mandate.

He has complained it has become extremely difficult for him to continue governing as his powers have been seriously undermined by onslaughts from the opposition-controlled Parliament and hostile news media. Bureau Report