Prominent S. Korea politician found dead in possible suicide
This photo taken on July 22, 2018 shows Roh Hoe-chan, a three-term lawmaker of South Korea's left-leaning Justice Party, arriving at Incheon international airport, west of Seoul.
A prominent liberal South Korean politician embroiled in a corruption scandal was found dead on Monday, police said, in what appeared to be one of the country’s highest-profile suicides in years.
The body of three-term lawmaker Roh Hoe-chan of the small opposition Justice Party was found near a Seoul apartment building. Police said they believe Roh, 61, leapt to his death from the building after leaving a suicide note.
“Dear fellow citizens, I’m sorry. It’s entirely my fault, so please punish me and I’d like you to continue to support the Justice Party,” Roh said in a note addressed to party members. He said he accepted 40 million won (US$36,260) in 2016, but without granting any political favors in return.
South Korean media reported that Roh wrote two other suicide notes to his family but their contents weren’t made public.
Roh faced a probe over an allegation that he received money from an associate of an influential blogger jailed in an online opinion-rigging scandal. The allegation tarnished the clean and reform-minded image of Roh, a former labor activist who has been a symbol for progressives.
