Seoul, Jul 23 (IANS): A prominent South Korean lawmaker committed suicide on Monday amid a probe into allegations that he received an illegal political fund.

According to Yonhap news agency, Representative Roh Hoe-chan, a leader of the left-leaning Justice Party, was found dead near the entrance of an apartment building in central Seoul early morning.

The three-term lawmaker jumped to his death, the agency reported. Roh was under investigation over allegations he received over $44,000 from a blogger at the centre of an online opinion-rigging scandal.

Yonhap said Roh, 61, left a suicide note in his apartment admitting to accepting money, but denying any wrongdoing. He also apologized to his family in the note.

South Korea has one of the world's highest suicide rates. Victims include disgraced politicians and business executives. One of the most prominent figures in recent years to commit suicide was former President Roh Moo-hyun, who jumped to his death in 2009 over a corruption scandal.