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Police say the body of the missing mayor of South Korea’s capital, Seoul, has been found.
They say Park Won-soon’s body was located in hills in northern Seoul early on Friday, more than seven hours after they launched a massive search for him.
Park’s daughter had called police on Thursday afternoon to report him missing, saying he had given her a “will-like” message before leaving home.
News reports say one of Park’s secretaries had lodged a complaint with police on Wednesday night over alleged sexual harassment.
About 300-400 officers and a drone were mobilized in the search, according to police.
Kim Ji-hyeong, a Seoul Metropolitan Government official, said Park had not shown up for work on Thursday for unspecified reasons and had cancelled all of his schedule, including a meeting with a presidential official at his Seoul City Hall office.
The Seoul-based SBS television network reported that one of Park’s secretaries had lodged a complaint with police on Wednesday night over alleged sexual harassment, such as unwanted physical contact that began in 2017. The SBS report, which didn’t cite any source, said the secretary told police investigators that an unspecified number of other female employees at Seoul City Hall had suffered similar sexual harassment by Park.
Both the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency and Park’s office said they couldn’t confirm the reports.
Park, a long-time civic activist and human rights lawyer, was elected Seoul mayor in 2011. He became the city’s first mayor to be voted into a third term in June last year. A member of President Moon Jae-in’s liberal Democratic Party, he has been considered a potential presidential candidate in 2022 elections.
Park has mostly maintained his activist colours as mayor, criticizing what he described as the country’s growing social and economic inequalities and corrupt ties between large businesses and politicians.
Early on, Park established himself as a fierce opponent of former conservative President Park Geun-hye and openly supported the millions of people who flooded the city’s streets in late 2016 and 2017, calling for her ouster over a corruption scandal.
Park Geun-hye was formally removed from office in March 2017 and is currently serving a decades-long prison term on bribery and other charges.
Seoul, a city of 10 million people, has been a new centre of the coronavirus outbreak in South Korea since the country eased its rigid social distancing rules in early May. Authorities are struggling to trace contacts amid surges in cases linked to nightclubs, church services, a huge e-commerce warehouse and door-to-door sellers in Seoul.
Park Won-soon led an aggressive anti-virus campaign, shutting down thousands of nightspots and banning rallies in major downtown streets.
What was the reaction of the city officials and citizens to the news of Mayor Park’s missing status and subsequent death?
On July 9th, 2020, the city of Seoul was shook by the sudden and tragic news of Mayor Park Won-soon’s death. The news of his missing status had been circulating the media for several hours before his lifeless body was discovered in the nearby hills, prompting guards and journalists to gather in Seoul in a somber atmosphere.
Many individuals gathered in front of the City Hall in Seoul, where the late mayor had his office. They came from all walks of life, including security officers, journalists, and city officials, to mourn the loss of a man who had dedicated his life to serving the city and its people. Park took office in 2011 and was serving his third term as a mayor of Seoul. He was well known for his progressive policies and his efforts to transform the city into a more environmentally sustainable and socially inclusive place.
The police report suggested that Park had left his official residence at around 10:00 am, and had taken his cell phone with him. His phone was found switched off during the search, which raised alarm bells. A massive manhunt was launched involving hundreds of police officers, helicopters, and drones to find the missing mayor. After an eight-hour long search, his remains were discovered in the nearby hills.
The news of his death sent shockwaves through the city as residents were left reeling from the sudden loss of such a beloved leader. Park Won-soon had a significant impact on the city of Seoul, and his contributions to its growth and development will be remembered for years to come. He was a visionary leader, a champion for the underprivileged, and a true public servant who believed in creating a better future for all.
In the aftermath of the incident, the Seoul Metropolitan Government held a memorial ceremony for the late mayor. It was attended by many officials and citizens who paid tribute to the man who had been a driving force behind the city’s growth and development. The ceremony was somber but also uplifting, as a testament to the life and legacy that Mayor Park Won-soon had left behind.
In conclusion, Mayor Park Won-soon’s death was a devastating blow to the city of Seoul and its citizens, who had come to rely on his visionary leadership and progressive policies. However, his legacy will continue to live on and inspire future generations of leaders who share his commitment to creating a better world for all. His death serves as a reminder of the importance of public service, and the impact that one person can have on an entire city, and even a nation.
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