Bodyguard Recalls Details of Roh`s Suicide

South Gyeongsang Province police yesterday said former President Roh Moo-hyun took his own life by jumping off Owl Rock at Mount Bonghwa in Gimhae. They also confirmed what Roh did before his death by questioning his bodyguard, who accompanied Roh to the mountain.

Based on information obtained from Roh’s computer at home, police found that he began typing his "last words" at 5:21 a.m. Saturday on his PC in the living room on the first floor of his house.

He first typed, “I`ve caused too much pain to those around me,” and saved the note for the first time at 5:26 a.m., five minutes after he began writing it. He then made revisions and saved the 14-line suicide note at 5:44 a.m. The file was saved on the desktop.

He called his bodyguard on duty immediately after saving his note and said, “I`m going to take a walk.” The bodyguard waited for Roh at the front gate of his residence with standard security equipment.

At 5:50 a.m. Roh appeared in a casual suit and hiking shoes. His bodyguard said he sensed nothing unusual though he said Roh looked a little tired that morning. Roh walked slowly one to two meters ahead of the bodyguard and said little.

Around 6:00 a.m., Roh entered the hiking path of the mountain and headed toward the peak. He then went down the mountain toward Owl Rock. He had climbed the same course several times last year, but this was his first time this year.

Two riot police at the guard post of the residence saw Roh standing atop Owl Rock commanding a view of his residence and Bongha field, and reported his location to security headquarters at the residence.

A male climber passed by 20 minutes after Roh and the bodyguard began talking on top of the rock. Roh diverted his bodyguard`s attention by saying, “Who’s there? Is that a reporter?”

When the bodyguard turned to look at the climber, Roh took two steps forward that his bodyguard interpreted as an attempt to turn away from the climber.

Before the bodyguard could take action, however, Roh threw himself from a rock 45 meters high around 6:45 a.m.