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Roh asks for patience with mistakes in his presidency

South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun, marking 100 days in office, appealed yesterday for time and patience to correct mistakes in running a country of 48 million people with Asia's fourth largest economy.

Roh said in a televised speech his visit to the US last month had strengthened ties with South Korea's key security ally and set the tone for peacefully resolving the crisis over communist North Korea's nuclear arms programs.

He said his government's swift handling of a huge financial fraud scandal involving the SK Group conglomerate had calmed markets. He lauded health workers for keeping his country free of the flu-like SARS epidemic that has devastated the Asian region.

"I frankly acknowledge that I and my government have made more than a few mistakes," Roh said in prepared remarks delivered at the presidential Blue House in Seoul. "I again stress that time and patience are necessary."

Roh, a 56-year-old former human-rights lawyer, won office in an upset victory in December amid North Korean nuclear brinkmanship, friction with the US and a wobbly economy.

He never expected a honeymoon.

But he has been under near-constant fire from the media and both conservative and liberal political groups since he took office on Feb. 25. Some complain the plain-speaking Roh has been too loquacious and others that he has not done enough to improve the economy.

"There's a lot of people who talk about economic uncertainties. I believe it's crucial for the president to show firm intention to fight uncertainties," Roh said.

"Business investment is essential to bolster growth potential. When economic volatility is high, those who are hit hardest are those at the grass-roots," he said.

That was reference to a property price boom that is based on speculative investment in swanky parts of Seoul.
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