hankyoreh

It has been confirmed that former President Roh Moo-hyun committed suicide on May 23.

According to a briefing from the South Gyungsang Police Agency, former President Roh Moo-hyun fell from a hill in the mountain near his home between 6:30 a.m and 6:40 a.m. while hiking with his secretary. He was rushed to a hospital and was declared dead at 9:30 a.m. A fracture of his skull was cited as the medical cause of his death.

A close aide of late president Roh said, “There is a note he left in relation to this death. We will offer our opinions once we assess the situation.”

Another aide said, “The late President Roh had appeared to be exhausted from the prosecutors’ investigation.”

The former first lady Kwon Yang-sook fainted after Roh’s death was confirmed at the Busan University hospital where Roh’s corpse has been placed.

The residents of Bongwha village, Roh’s birthplace, are criticizing the prosecutor and the current government, saying, “They sacrificed Roh in order to hide their own faults.”

Cheong Wa Dae officials appear occupied by the news of Roh’s suicide. A Cheong Wa Dae official said, “We will announce our opinion during a formal briefing after assessing the facts of the situation.” It has been reported that President Lee Myung-bak expressed shock after hearing the news.

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