Seoul city Mayor Park Won-soon found dead, South Korean police confirm

Thursday, July 9, 2020

Park Won-soon, the mayor of Seoul, South Korea, was found dead, police reported Friday morning, local time (UTC+0900). He was reported missing Thursday evening by the police. Park was 64 years old.

Park Won-soon's body was found at Mount Bukak. According to initial reports, the police have been investigating the specifics about the cause of his death.

According to local reports, the 64-year-old mayor left his home a quarter before 11 a.m. on Thursday with a backpack. At about 5:17 p.m. his daughter reported to the police he "left home four–five hours ago after leaving words like a will, with his phone currently off." ^{((ko))Korean language: ‍4~5시간 전에 아버지가 유언 같은 말을 남기고 집을 나갔는데 전화기가 꺼져 있다} Park's phone was last active in the north-east region of Seoul in Seongbuk-gu, The Korea Herald reported.

The Seoul government said Park had cancelled his entire Thursday schedule.

A large search operation was launched, involving over 500 police officers and firefighters.

Shortly before Park Won-soon's death, on Wednesday a case was reportedly filed against him by a former secretery concerning sexual harassment, and the police had said they would be investigating the allegations.

Park was elected mayor of the capital city in 2011. He was re-elected twice, in 2014 and 2018. His current term was through 2021.

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Sources

Park Han-na. "[Breaking] Seoul mayor found dead, suicide suspected" — The Korea Herald, July 10, 2020
Yoonjung Seo. "Seoul's mayor found dead, hours after police launched search operation to find him" — CNN, July 9, 2020
Yoonjung Seo. "Seoul mayor reported missing as police launch search" — CNN, July 9, 2020
Hyonhee Shin. "Seoul mayor found dead after leaving message 'like a will'" — Reuters, July 9, 2020
"Park Won-soon: Mayor of Seoul reported missing with search under way" — BBC News Online, 9 July, 2020
Yonhap. "Police searching for Seoul mayor after missing report" — The Korea Herald, July 9, 2020
"[속보] “박원순 서울시장 유언 같은 말 남기고 나가” 딸이 경찰에 신고" — Kukmin Ilbo, July 9, 2020 (Korean)
Lee Se-young. ""박시장이 성추행 하고 사진을 보냈어요" 前비서 경찰에 고소" — The Chosun Ilbo, July 9, 2020 (Korean)

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Articles presented on Wikinews reflect the specific time at which they were written and published, and do not attempt to encompass events or knowledge which occur or become known after their publication.

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