A SOUTH Korean television personality known as the "happiness preacher" and her husband have been found dead in a motel room in an apparent joint suicide, police said.

A motel employee in the town of Goyang north of Seoul found Choi Yoon-Hee, 63, and her 72-year-old husband hanging in their room Thursday night, they said.



A note left by Choi and released by police read - "I've felt something wrong with my body from two years ago. I have a hard time, suffering from lung and heart diseases."



She apologised to her family and friends for giving in to "unbearable" pain.



Police said the husband was believed to have helped his wife commit suicide before killing himself.



Choi wrote about 20 books about happiness and hope and earned her nickname for inspiring people through her TV programs to live happily.



South Korea has the world's highest suicide rate for women among major advanced nations, according to official data, and the second highest rate for men after Japan.



For information about suicide prevention and support contact Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636.

Originally published as Happiness guru commits suicide