Report: Former S. Korean President Roh commits suicide

Former South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun served from 2003-2008.

(CNN) -- Former South Korean President Roh Moo-Hyun committed suicide by leaping to his death from a hill behind his house, the state-run Yonhap news agency reported Saturday.

Yonhap cited a former presidential aide, acting as the family's lawyer, who said Roh left a suicide note for his family.

Roh, 62, had gone hiking near his home with an aide around 6:30 a.m. Saturday, Yonhap said.

He was found later with head injuries, and died after being taken to a hospital in Busan, police said. A hospital spokesman declined to comment.

Yonhap said Roh's death came amid an investigation into a bribery scandal that has tarnished his reputation.

Roh, who served as president from 2003 to 2008, and his family had allegedly received $6 million in bribes from a businessman, Yonhap said.

Roh said he learned about the payments only after he left office and that some of them were legitimate investments, Yonhap reported.

Roh had maintained a Web site and attracted supporters and tourists to his hometown, Yonhap said.

Source: http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/asiapcf/05/22/roh.dead/index.html