The presidential office of Cheong Wa Dae expressed regrets over the death of former President Roh Moo-hyun but withheld an official reaction until more details are known, Yonhap reported.
Roh, 62, was pronounced dead at a hospital earlier Saturday after he fell while hiking in his hometown of Gimhae, some 400 kilometers south of Seoul.
The presidential office refused to comment, saying it was still trying to verify exactly what had happened.
"We are still trying to find out the exact cause of his death and will make an official response after we make a complete assessment of the incident," an official was quoted as saying.
Roh's death comes in the midst of a prosecution probe into his alleged involvement in a corruption scandal surrounding his family members.