By Shim Jae-yun
Staff Reporter

President Roh Moo-hyun on Sunday put his presidency on the line to stave off partisan attacks on his ethical standard, saying that he was willing to resign as head of state, if he spent more than one tenth of illegal campaign funds spent by the majority Grand National Party (GNP).

Roh’s spokesman Yoon Tai-young said Roh told the leaders of four political parties at Chong Wa Dae that he would immediately resign if his party had engaged in the GNP’s caliber of corruption.

At the meeting, Roh and the party leaders reached an agreement to send 3,000 troops to Iraq to help with reconstruction projects, Yoon said. The proposal to send troops will be submitted to the Cabinet meeting tomorrow then sent to the National Assembly for approval later this month.

Roh stressed the need to create a contingent filled with combat and non-combat troops and to independently take charge of restoration in a certain area.

Fear of possible terrorist attacks and a growing anti-Korean sentiment have made the government hesitant to send Korean security troops. The Seoul government has been opting for the contingent to guard the engineering units and medics and carry out security education for Iraqi people.

To get to the bottom of the illegal fundraising scandal, Roh said that he will accept another special inquiry bill, once an inquiry into allegations involving his aides has been completed.

The illegal campaign fund scandal has been rocking political circles. Prosecutors discovered the GNP received more than 50 billion won ($42.2 million) from major conglomerates, including 10 billion won from SK, 11.2 billion from Samsung, 15 billion won from LG, and 10 billion won from Hyundai Motor.

Some of Roh’s close associates are also allegedly took hundreds of millions of won from major companies.

GNP chairman Choe Byung-yul called for more emphasis on associates of President Roh. Choe said prosecutors have unfairly focused on the major opposition party.

Choe vowed his party will fully cooperate with the investigation, but added GNP officials would introduce another special inquiry bill, if the prosecution focuses only on the opposition party.

Roh refuted the claim he has been participating in the prosecution’s investigations of illegal fund raising.

``I do not agree with the GNP, which raises many allegations in connection with the fairness of the investigation,’’ he said