The chairman of a suspended savings bank died early Thursday of an apparent suicide after being summoned by prosecutors investigating irregularities at several troubled savings banks.

Ace Mutual Savings Bank chairman Kim Hak-heon lost consciousness in a hotel room in southern Seoul after taking sleeping pills earlier in the day, prosecutors said. He was rushed to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Kim was scheduled to appear before prosecutors for questioning the same morning in relation to their investigation, prosecutors said.

Ace Mutual had its business suspended by the financial watchdog last year, along with several other savings banks, due to capital shortages and lending and other business irregularities. It was later acquired by banking group Hana Financial Group.

Dozens of other savings bank heads, executives and major shareholders were indicted in relation to the savings bank investigation, with two bank employees previously reported to have killed themselves after being issued summons notices. 

(Yonhap News)