SEOUL , South Korea ( CNN ) -- Former South Korean President Roh Moo-Hyun committed suicide Saturday by leaping to his death from a hill behind his house , the government announced . Former South Korean President Roh Moo-Hyun served from 2003-2008 . He was 62 . Roh , who was president from 2003 to 2008 , had gone hiking near his home with an aide about 6:30 a.m. Saturday ( 5:30 p.m . ET on Friday ) , the state-run Yonhap news agency said . He was found later with head injuries , and died at 9:30 a.m. after being taken to a hospital in Busan , police said . A hospital spokesman declined to comment . Roh left a suicide note for his family that family lawyer Moon Jae-in handed out to South Korean media . News reports said Roh wrote it on his computer about half an hour before he left the house . `` I am in debt to too many people , '' the note reads . `` Too many people have suffered because of me . And I can not imagine the suffering they will go through in the future . '' Roh 's death came amid an investigation into a bribery scandal that had tarnished his reputation . Prosecutors were investigating the former president for allegedly receiving $ 6 million in bribes from a South Korean businessman while in office . Roh 's wife was scheduled to be questioned by prosecutors Saturday , and Roh was planning to answer a second round of questions next week . With Roh 's death , prosecutors said , the case against him has been suspended . Roh had said he was ashamed about the scandal . In the first round of questioning , he said he was losing face and that he was disappointing his supporters . Watch more about his death » . The former president said he learned about the payments only after he left office and that some of them were legitimate investments , Yonhap reported . Roh wrote about his thoughts on a blog that he maintained , which also attracted supporters and tourists to his hometown , Yonhap said . Watch Roh 's political rise and fall remembered » . Roh 's suicide note said his health was poor and that `` nothing is left in my life but to be a burden to others . '' `` Do n't be too sad . Are n't life and death both a piece of nature ? Do n't be sorry . Do n't blame anyone . It is fate , '' he wrote . The note asks that his body be cremated and for a small headstone to be left near his house . `` It 's what I have thought about for a long time , '' he writes at the end . Although Roh had not made a formal guilty plea , many were disappointed that a man who came to power vowing an end to corruption would face such allegations . U.S. President Barack Obama said in a statement he was `` saddened '' by news of Roh 's death . `` During his tenure , President Roh contributed to the strong and vital relationship between the United States and the Republic of Korea , '' Obama said in the statement issued by the White House . `` On behalf of the government of the United States , I offer my condolences to his family and to the Korean people . '' Roh hoped to leave a legacy of improved relations with North Korea . Just before he left the presidency , Roh became the first South Korean leader to cross the demilitarized zone and meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong Il . Roh believed in the `` sunshine policy '' of his predecessor , Kim Dae-Jung , that sought to engage the north , and Roh also promised aid . Roh spoke to CNN correspondent Sohn Jie-ae just after that trip and said he thought his legacy would be to ensure that many others crossed the demilitarized zone after him . The current South Korean president , Lee Myung-Bak , however , takes a harder line on the north and has so far not continued Roh 's efforts . CNN 's Sohn Jie-ae contributed to this report from Seoul .
Attorney : The FBI is investigating the Trump campaign for possible collusion with Russia during last year’s election. Roh 's death came amid bribery investigation that has tarnished his reputation . Was first South Korean leader to cross the DMZ and meet with Kim Jong Il . President Obama offered condolences from U.S. to his family and Korean people .