Disgraced S. Korean minister found dead

SEOUL, Oct. 10 (UPI) -- A South Korean vice minister who resigned amidst allegations of political corruption was found dead inside his home on Friday, police said.

Police said 61-year-old Kim Yung-chul apparently committed suicide at his Seoul home in the wake of resigning from Prime Minister Han Seung-soo's office last week, the Yonhap News Agency said.

Kim had been accused of accepting bribes while in charge of a state-run energy firm between 2002 and 2005.

Police said along with Kim's body, they found a note written by the former official to his wife.

"I love you. I am sorry. It's too hard, I am leaving first," police quoted the former vice minister as saying in the note.

An unidentified Supreme Prosecutors' Office official said Kim's apparent suicide came before the corruption investigation could yield any official results.

"Investigators were looking into allegations against Mr. Kim, but they had no details yet," the anonymous prosecutor told Yonhap. "We are surprised and sad."