Former President Roh Tae-woo, 81, was hospitalized again on Monday for a sudden surge in blood pressure.

“He is not in critical condition, but in a condition that requires bedrest,” said an official at Seoul National University Hospital on condition of anonymity.

Roh, who served as president between 1988 and 1993, has been repeatedly taken to the hospital for asthma, problems with his bronchial tubes and other illnesses over the last decade. He underwent surgery for prostate cancer in 2002.

Last week, Roh made headlines by agreeing to pay up the unpaid 23 billion won ($20.5 million) in fines over the next several weeks. He was sentenced to 17 years in prison and fined 262.8 billion won in 1997 on a number of charges including revolt and bribery.

(sshluck@heraldcorp.com)