Former President Roh Dies

Roh Moo-hyun
Jumping to Death From Hill Near His Home in Bongha Village

By Kim Rahn and Park Si-soo
Staff Reporter

Former President Roh Moo-hyun killed himself Saturday morning, police confirmed.

Roh fell from the hill at the back of his residence in Bongha Village, Gimhae, South Gyeongsang Province, around 6:40 a.m. while hiking with a security guard.

Police suspect that he committed suicide by jumping off the mountaintop. Moon Jae-in, his former secretary, said Roh left a short suicide note to his family, but did not disclose what he wrote.

After the fall, Roh was immediately sent to a nearby small hospital around 7 a.m., but he was unconscious and was in serious condition with multi-fracture and serious wounds in brain, according to the hospital sources.

He was again transferred to a bigger hospital, Pusan National University Hospital. Despite cardiopulmonary resuscitation, he failed to recover from the brain damage and passed away at 9:30 a.m., a hospital official confirmed.

Roh’s wife, Kwon Yang-sook, passed out at the hospital when confirming the death of her husband.

Roh has been under investigation of the alleged bribery involving his family members and long-time supporter, shoemaking firm Taekwang’s CEO Park Yeon-cha. His wife, Kwon Yang-sook, was scheduled to face re-summons as early as this weekend. The prosecution was planning to indict him for bribery next week.

A human rights lawyer, Roh took office in 2003 vowing to fight corruption. Despite high initial hopes, Roh's administration quickly became dogged by allegations of incompetence, while Roh's frequent indulgence in personal clashes with his opponents and critics eroded public support.

rahnita@koreatimes.co.kr
pss@koreatimes.co.kr

Source: http://koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2009/05/117_45528.html