After it was announced that former President Roh Moo-hyun had passed away the presidential office relayed President Lee Myung-bak's comments. Delivering the statement Saturday at noon Presidential Spokesman Lee Dong-kwan said the president and the top office are in complete shock.

The presidential office was informed about former president Roh's falling off a cliff about 40 minutes after it happened. A team of presidential bodyguards dispatched to Roh's residence at Bongha village reported this to the top office having been informed by the bodyguard who had been accompanying the former president.

President Lee then sat down with his aides to discuss the situation and said that it is very unbelievable, regretful and deeply sad. He also instructed his officials to make sure Roh received swift medical treatment.

While attending the Korea-EU summit Saturday morning President Lee received a memo from an aide that former President Roh had died at a hospital.

During a break President Lee expressed his condolences for Roh's family and instructed officials to take care of the situation respectfully with a proper and honorable funeral for the former president.

The South Gyeongsang Provincial Police Agency questioned the bodyguard who had been with President Roh over why he was not able to prevent Roh from jumping. A presidential official said the bodyguard had reported that while on the mountain the former president asked for a cigarette. The guard asked if he should leave to go get one but Roh said he didn't have to. Then Roh distracted his bodyguard by referring to a person walking below before jumping.

President Lee cancelled attending a nationally televised concert Saturday and a Cabinet meeting about fiscal policy matters scheduled for Sunday.