"Two Days After Sexual Harassment Allegation... Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon Found Dead on Bukaksan Mountain"

Discovered Near Sukjeongmun, Bukaksan
Funeral to Be a 5-Day Seoul Metropolitan City Funeral... Departure on the 13th
Civilian Memorial Altar Set Up in Front of Seoul City Hall

[Asia Economy Reporter Jo In-kyung] Park Won-soon, the Mayor of Seoul who was accused of sexual harassment by a former secretary, took his own life. He was 64 years old. The funeral hall has been set up at Seoul National University Hospital. The funeral will be held as a five-day Seoul Metropolitan Government funeral, with the departure on the 13th. Seoul will be operated under the authority of Acting Mayor Seo Jeong-hyeop, the First Deputy Mayor of Administration, until the by-election in April next year. As the first mayor to be elected for three terms since 2011, his sudden death during his term has caused great shock not only in the political circles but also among citizens.

The late Mayor Park was found dead at 12:01 a.m. on the 10th near Sukjeongmun in Bukaksan Mountain. The police suspected no foul play and presumed it was a result of an extreme choice. On the 8th, the late Mayor Park was accused of sexual harassment by former secretary A. A filed a complaint with the police that night with a lawyer and was investigated until early the next morning. A, who worked as Mayor Park’s secretary in 2017, reportedly testified that she was frequently sexually harassed. It has not been confirmed whether this accusation was the direct cause of his extreme choice. A Seoul city official said, "There have been no internal reports or consultations related to sexual misconduct," and added, "Since the related case was closed due to lack of prosecutorial jurisdiction, there are no plans for a separate investigation at the city level."

On the morning of the 9th, the late Mayor Park canceled all his schedules and disappeared. That afternoon, his daughter reported him missing to the police. The police conducted an overnight search based on the last confirmed cellphone signal near Gilsangsa Temple in Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, and CCTV footage near Waryong Park where Mayor Park was seen. It took about seven hours from the report to the discovery of Mayor Park’s body. The bereaved family and Seoul city officials began receiving condolences from acquaintances starting at noon that day. Citizens mourning Mayor Park’s death and some close aides gathered early in the morning at Seoul National University Hospital. Seoul city plans to set up a public condolence altar in front of Seoul City Hall for citizens who wish to pay their respects.

Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun expressed condolences at the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters meeting that morning, saying, "Mayor Park, who devoted himself to the citizens of Seoul for over ten years, was found deceased. I pray for the repose of his soul."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.