Chung mong-hun, the Hyundai /group/ chairman charged with illegally funneling money to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, leaped to death from his 12th-floor office in Seoul as the South Korean government deepened its investigation.

　　Chung and two aides of former South Korean President Kim Dae-jung were charged in June with illegally channeling US million to the DPRK ahead of a landmark summit that earned Kim the Nobel Peace Prize in 2000. Prosecutors grilled Chung, 54, three times for 12 hours each in the last two weeks.

　　"The stress of the inquiry must have been considerable," said Tony Michell, president of Europe Asia Business Consultancy, a UK-based company that advises on invest-ments.

　　Shares of Hyundai companies involved in the transfers fell on concern the investigation will spread. Chung spearheaded Hyundai's investments in North Korea, a cornerstone of the South's rapprochement with the North.

　　Chung was chairman of privately held Hyundai Asan Corp, the unit that spearheaded the North Korean investments, including a 5-year-old tourism resort. The unprofitable investments were a drain on the /group/'s finances and helped lead to the breakup of the Hyundai /group/.

　　The government earlier this year said Hyundai Merchant Marine Co, Hyundai Engineering & Construction Inc and Hynix Semiconductor Inc were involved in the illegal transfers. Prosecutors are now investigating allegations that Park Jie-won, a close aide to President Kim, took bribes from Hyundai companies.

　　Chung's body was discovered in the shrubs outside Hyundai's head-quarters early yesterday morning. The heir to what was once South Korea's biggest family owned industrial empire left a four-page suicide note asking that Hyundai's North Korean investments con-tinue, YTN television news reported.

　　Chung "regretted recent reper-cussions from Hyundai's transfer of funds to North Korea and felt responsible," said a statement by Hyundai Elevator Co, /where/ he was chairman.

　　Chung addressed the first part of his suicide note to Kim Yoon-kyu, president of Asan Corp, YTN said. Chung apologized and asked that Kim continue the /group/'s efforts in North Korea. He also sought forgiveness from his wife and three children and asked that his remains be scattered in North Korea's Mount Geumgang, /where/ the /group/ operates the tourism resort, it said.