Presidential office grieved by Roh`s death

SEOUL, May 23 (Yonhap) -- The presidential office Cheong Wa Dae expressed regrets
over the death of former President Roh Moo-hyun Saturday but withheld an official
reaction until more details are known.
Roh, 62, was pronounced dead at a hospital earlier Saturday after he fell while
hiking in his hometown of Gimhae, some 400 kilometers south of Seoul, according
to police.
The presidential office refused to comment, saying it was still trying to verify
exactly what had happened.
"We are still trying to find out the exact cause of his death and will make an
official response after we make a complete assessment of the incident," an
official told reporters, asking not to be identified.
Roh's death comes in the midst of a prosecution probe into his alleged
involvement in a corruption scandal surrounding his family members.
His wife, Kwon Yang-sook, and son, Gun-ho, have been suspected of receiving at
least US$6 million in bribes from a businessman, but the former president's
supporters have claim the investigation is politically motivated.
bdk@yna.co.kr
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