By SUNGHA PARK

SEOUL -- A political bribery scandal involving figures from South Korea's two major political parties took a new twist on Tuesday when former President Roh Moo-hyun announced on a Web site that his wife received money from a key figure in the case.

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Associated Press

South Korea's Roh Moo-hyun with his wife, Kwon Yang-sook, in February.

 

The development is a surprising turn for Mr. Roh, who until now appeared to be the first South Korean president since the country became a true democracy in the late 1980s not to be tarnished by a bribery or political influence scandal.

Mr. Roh posted the announcement several hours after one of his former aides, Chung Sang-moon, was arrested and charged with taking hundreds of millions of won from Park Yeon-cha, chairman of Taekwang Industrial Co., a shoe manufacturer.

In his Web posting, Mr. Roh said his wife, Kwon Yang-suk, "asked for, received and used the money" for which Mr. Chung was arrested. "I'm worried if he stated that he did it," Mr. Roh wrote. "The charge shouldn't be on Mr. Chung, but on us."

Mr. Roh said the money was used to repay debts. He indicated he would cooperate with investigators and believed they would reveal more details.

"I'm overwhelmed by shame," Mr. Roh wrote. "I'm more ashamed to those who have trusted and supported me. I sincerely apologize."

The Supreme Prosecutors' Office couldn't be reached for comment late Tuesday.

Mr. Park was arrested in December on tax-evasion and bribery charges for making payouts to several people in Mr. Roh's administration as well as other politicians. In recent weeks, prosecutors have interviewed more than a dozen prominent political figures.

In December, Mr. Roh's older brother, Roh Gun-pyeong, was arrested on charges for allegedly colluding with Mr. Park to broker the purchase of an ailing securities firm from a state-run company in 2006.

Write to SungHa Park at sungha.park@wsj.com