Kim Bu-young, head of county in South Gyeongsang, found dead

The head of South Gyeongsang's Changnyeong County, Kim Bu-young, was found dead in an apparent suicide on Monday.

Kim Bu-young, head of Changnyeong County, South Gyeongsang, was found dead on Monday. [YONHAP]

The head of South Gyeongsang's Changnyeong County, Kim Bu-young, was found dead in an apparent suicide on Monday.

Kim was on trial for violating the election law after being indicted last year.

Police found Kim's body at around 9:40 a.m. on a hill located in the county, with a suicide note left in the pocket of his jacket.

The two-page note read, “Innocent of the case related to the election law violation.”

Kim did not go in to work on Monday and reportedly told his office that he would take a day off.

The police said they will not request an autopsy of the body.

Kim was expected to appear for his first trial on Wednesday. He was accused of paying 130 million won ($104,500) to three people to let a man run in the general elections last June so that he could break up the support of his competing candidate to win the election.

Kim and his three accomplices were indicted last year.

Kim was elected as the mayor of Changnyeong County during the June election after being nominated by the People Power Party.

BY CHO JUNG-WOO [cho.jungwoo1@joongang.co.kr]