Seoul mayor's apparent suicide sends shock waves through South Korea
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
News that the former activist, women's rights advocate and lawyer had apparently taken his own life has rocked South Korea's capital, Seoul, home to more than 10 million people. As one of the country's most well-known elected officials, he had been tipped as a potential presidential candidate in 2022.
'I apologize to everyone': Seoul mayor's apparent suicide note released
Park's death followed a criminal probe and media reports of alleged sexual misconduct.
On Wednesday, one of Park's former secretaries filed a complaint accusing him of sexual harassment, the South Korean Yonhap news agency reported.
Police also confirmed that a criminal complaint had been made Wednesday alleging "sexual molestation" against Park.
Late Thursday afternoon his daughter, Park Da-in, reported him missing to the police when she found out his phone was turned off about four to five hours after he left home after making comments said sounded like a will to her.
This prompted a massive police search, and Park's body was found just after midnight near the Bukak Mountain area of the Sungbuk district of Seoul, Choi Ik-su, the director of criminal litigation at Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, said at a press briefing Friday.
There was no sign of foul play, and police did not give a cause of death.
"Currently, we found no evidence to support murder, but we will nevertheless conduct a thorough investigation into his death," Choi said. "Considering the honor of the mayor and his bereaved family, we are not going to disclose the cause of the death."
A representative for Park's family said it was time to let him go and urged people to avoid spreading "groundless statements."
"If acts of defaming him continue irrespective of the truth, we will sternly respond with legal action," Moon Mi-ran, who formerly served as deputy mayor under Park, said in a statement.
As a lawyer in the 1990s, Park won one of South Korea's earliest cases on sexual harassment. During his career, Park also strongly advocated for the cause of "comfort women" who were forced to work in Japan's wartime military brothels during World War II.
The late Mayor of Seoul, Park Won-Soon, photographed during an interview in the South Korean capital in 2014. Ed Jones / AFP - Getty Images file
In addition, Park was an outspoken advocate of gender equality. Amid the #MeToo movement in 2018, he had praised South Korean women for their courage after a series of women accused powerful politicians of sexual wrongdoings.
Many residents of Seoul expressed shock over his death. Leading lawmakers of the ruling and opposition parties expressed condolences, as did the U.S. ambassador to South Korea, Harry Harris.
South Korea has one of the highest suicide rates in the world, according to the OECD.
If you or someone you know is at risk of suicide please call the U.S. National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255, text TALK to 741741 or visit SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources for additional resources.
Adela Suliman
Adela Suliman is a London-based writer and reporter for NBC News Digital.
Stella Kim
Stella Kim is an NBC News freelance producer based in Seoul.
Reuters contributed.
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