SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — Korean Air says its chairman, Cho Yang-ho, has died in the United States because of an unspecified illness.

His death follows a shareholder vote to remove the 70-year-old from the board over a series of scandals surrounding the company's ruling family.

The company provided no further details in its statement Monday. Cho had remained chairman, which is a non-board role, even after shareholders ousted him from the board and he expressed his intent to continue participating in management.

Cho has been indicted on multiple charges, including embezzlement and tax evasion.