Former South Korea president leaps to death in ravine
Guardian
24-May-2009

South Korea was in a state of shock yesterday following the suicide of Roh Moo-hyun, its former president, who had been embroiled in a multi-million dollar corruption scandal.

Roh, 62, died from massive head injuries after leaping into a ravine while on a climbing trip near his home in Bongha village near the south-east coast, according to local media reports.

The former democracy activist, whose five-year term ended in February 2008, was said to have been under intense pressure amid allegations that he had accepted US$6m in bribes while in office.

Roh, who rose from an impoverished childhood to occupy the presidential Blue House, left a suicide note in which he hinted at ill health and talked of being unable to confront "countless agonies down the road".

The note, the text of which was released by the Yonhap news agency, said: "The rest of my life would only be a burden for others. I can't do anything because I'm not healthy. I can't read books, nor can I write. Don't be too sad. Isn't life and death all part of nature? Don't be sorry. Don't blame anybody. It's fate. Please cremate me. And please leave a small tombstone near home. I've long thought about that."

Lee Myung-bak, the country's present leader, said Roh's death had left him "stricken with sorrow and deep sadness". He broke away from talks with Vaclav Claus, the Cz... >>>

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