Seoul: 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 on 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 0630 hrs (local time) on 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.
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