South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun formally quitted from the ruling Uri Party on Wednesday with a public statement letter to the party.

Roh expressed his regret to quit from the ruling party and said he wished the Uri Party could take efforts to unify and avoid further split.

Roh announced last Thursday that he decided to quit from the Uri Party to maintain political neutrality in the run-up to December's presidential election and help eliminate intra-party conflict.

Roh was the nation's fourth incumbent president to break with the ruling party after former presidents Roh Tae-woo, Kim Young-sam and Kim Dae-jung.