(CNN) -- 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 Saturday.
Former South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun served from 2003-2008.
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 6:30 a.m. 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.
CNN's Sohn Jie-Ae contributed to this report from Seoul.
All About Roh Moo-hyun • South Korea
Former South Korean President Roh Moo-Hyun died after falling from the side of a mountain near his house in an apparent suicide, the state-run Yonhap News Agency reported early Saturday.
Roh Moo-Hyun, 2004
Roh, who was facing an investigation into allegations of bribery, fell at about 6:30 a.m. Korea Standard Time (9:00 p.m. GMT), after having gone hiking with an aide. Roh was taken to the Pusan National University Hospital, where he died at 9:30 a.m.

"Roh left his home at 5:45 a.m. to go hiking," Moon Jae-in, an adviser to Roh, said. "He appears to have jumped from a mountain rock at 6:40 a.m. He was accompanied by a bodyguard at that time."

"He left behind a brief suicide note," Moon added.

The investigation stems from allegations that Roh received a US$6 million bribe while in office.

Pusan National University Hospital chief Paek Seung-wan told reporters that Roh died of a head injury.

"At the time of his arrival at the hospital at 8:23 a.m.," Paek said, "he was unconscious and couldn't breathe on his own. A laceration measuring 11 centimeters was found on the front part of his head. Doctors attempted cardiopulmonary resuscitation but suspended it at 8:30 a.m. as he failed to recover. A brain contusion was also found, but head injury was confirmed as the direct cause of his death. In addition, fractures were found, including in the ribs and pelvis."