S. Korea's Roh admits taking money

SEOUL, April 7 (UPI) -- Former South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun says he accepted money from an indicted businessman and will cooperate with a bribery investigation.

Roh, who was president from 2003-08, admitted in a Web post entitled "I Apologize" that his wife received money from Park Yeon-cha, the scandal-plagued chairman of the shoe manufacturer Taekwang Industry Co., the South Korean news agency Yonhap reported Tuesday.

"It was because there was a debt that had not yet been repaid," Roh wrote, saying he was sorry and embarrassed for causing "discomfort to the people from the money issues."

Roh's admission, in addition to tarnishing his legacy, is likely to hamper the political chances of the embattled opposition Democratic Party he once headed as the nation approaches the April 29 parliamentary by-elections, analysts said.

Saying he and his wife received the money through administrative affairs aide Jung Sang-moon, Roh wrote, "I will accept a prosecution investigation and share more detailed information and I will be judged appropriately according to the law."

Yonhap said Jung was arrested Tuesday and was being questioned in connection with allegations that he took hundreds of thousands of dollars from the businessman.