By Na Jeong-ju
Staff Reporter
Cheong Wa Dae expressed deep regret over the suicide of former President Roh Moo-hyun Saturday and offered condolence to the bereaved family.
President Lee Myung-bak received a report about Roh's death while holding a summit with Czech Republic President Vaclav Klaus at Cheong Wa Dae in the morning. Lee looked ``shocked and sad,'' presidential spokesman Lee Dong-kwan said.
``Lee said it is unbelievable and deplorable,'' spokesman Lee said. ``He offered his condolence to Roh's family and told his staff to provide all available support for his funeral.''
Presidential Chief of Staff Chung Chung-kil called Moon Jae-in, former presidential chief of staff and one of the closest aides to Roh, and offered his deepest condolence, the spokesman said.
President Lee planned to go to a charity concert in the afternoon, but canceled it for an emergency meeting with the presidential staff and ministers.
Roh's death also came as a shock to politicians. Political parties held emergency meetings of senior stakeholders and discussed how the political situation will change after Roh's death and what he wrote in his will.
Roh committed suicide while undergoing a prosecution investigation over a bribery scandal that also involving his wife and son.
``Today is a really sad day for this country and the Korean people,'' Grand National Party floor leader Ahn Sang-soo told reporters. ``We are trying to know why the former President decided to die. There will be discussions among party leaders this week.''
The main opposition Democratic Party (DP) criticized Cheong Wa Dae and the prosecution for Roh's death.
``We want to ask them whether the investigation of Roh was appropriate and he was treated as a former head of state,'' DP spokeswoman Kim Yoo-jung said. ``We are deeply saddened by this tragedy.''
The opposition party convened a meeting of the supreme council after Roh's death was confirmed. DP Chairman Chung Sye-kyun visited a hospital in Yangsan, South Gyeongsang Province, where Roh's body is kept, and met Roh's family members and aides.
jj@koreatimes.co.kr
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