Tag: Park Won-soon

This should be no surprise that the police dropped an announcement in the middle of the holiday period hoping fewer people would notice that the investigation into Park Won-soon was closed:

Women’s rights groups are furious over the police’s decision to close the investigation on sexual misconduct allegations against late Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon without reaching a clear conclusion.

The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency announced on Tuesday that it has ended the months-long investigation, and the case will be transferred to the prosecution with non-indictment recommendations. Under the current laws, the police have no power to recommend indictment when the accused is dead. 

A coalition of women’s rights groups issued a statement immediately after, criticizing the authorities for failing to conduct an active and fair investigation and not disclosing to the public new facts found over the past few months. 

Korea Times

You can read more at the link.

It seems the ruling Democratic Party in Korea is just hoping that the sexual misconduct allegations against Mayor Park Won-soon will just go away with his death:

On the funeral day of late Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon on Monday, the main opposition party launched what is likely to become an all-out campaign to press for a probe into allegations that the deceased sexually harassed his former secretary.

The pressure by the United Future Party (UFP) highlights deepening political division over the death of the late Seoul mayor.

Park was found dead at a mountain in Seoul after apparently taking his own life on Thursday. He was facing a criminal complaint on sexual harassment, filed by his former secretary.

With Park’s death, the police were to close the case against him in his absence, but opposition lawmakers are increasing calls to get to the bottom of the allegations raised against the three-term mayor who was a lawyer defending human rights and women’s rights. (……)

“I believe the DP, having been more proactive than anyone in the past ‘#MeToo’ wave, would doubtlessly join the efforts to find the truth,” he said, calling for a probe into the case.

Yonhap

You can read more at the link, but I wonder if this is the end of the #metoo movement in South Korea? The movement pretty much ended in the U.S. once the #metoo people went after Joe Biden. Could the same thing happen in South Korea?

Here is the latest update on the suicide of Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon:

On Friday, city authorities unveiled a note Park left at his official residence.

Park said he is “sorry” to everyone and specifically mentioned that he is sorry to his family for “causing only pain.”

He asked to be cremated and be scattered at his parent’s graves. The message did not mention the sexual harassment allegations raised against Park.

The mayor was reportedly facing a probe into the allegations after a female former secretary filed a criminal complaint on Wednesday over unwanted “physical contact” and “inappropriate” messages.

In accordance with the law, the case was automatically terminated upon the mayor’s death. (…….)

When asked whether the city plans to open an investigation, city officials said they are “not yet aware” of the allegations and have not reviewed such plan.

The city government said that Park’s funeral will be held in the fashion of a mayoral funeral for five days. Funerals in Korea generally last for three days.

Yonhap

You can read more at the link, but it is becoming pretty clear why Park committed suicide. Instead of being reviled and possibly jailed for sexual misconduct like what happened to former Governor An Jee-hung, Park is being honored and revered. The sexual misconduct allegations will slowly be forgotten.

Unfortunately the Mayor Park Won-soon has been found dead in northern Seoul:

Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon was found dead in northern Seoul, police said Friday, after he was reported missing by his family.

Park’s daughter had told police that her father’s phone was turned off after he left their home after leaving a message that sounded like a will.

Yonhap

Here is a YTN News report about the death of Mayor Park:

According to the YTN News report Mayor Park was found dead in slopes of Bukhansan mountain near Waryong Park. The below map shows where the park is located at in Seoul with red tree icon:

It has not been confirmed if this is suicide yet or not, but according to what this daughter has said, it does appear to be a suicide. If confirmed this would be the second major political suicide since 2009 to rock South Korea. In 2009 former President Roh Moo-hyun committed suicide when him and his family was faced with corruption probes.

Condolences to Mayor Park’s family and friends.

The war on dog meat restaurants continues:

Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon on Saturday pledged to completely eliminate the business of dog meat in South Korea’s capital. 

“Once dog-butchering businesses are completely removed soon, I plan to make a declaration,” he said in a meeting with an audience after watching animated film “The Underdog” at a local cinema. 

Korea Times

You can read more at the link.

Considering that the vast majority of the pollution is coming from China I doubt banning cars will make much of difference while highly inconveniencing the public:

Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon said Sunday that his government would seek the power to ban vehicles based on license plate number during days with bad air pollution to reduce the number of cars running on city roads.The Seoul Metropolitan Government plans to request an amendment to the enforcement ordinance of the Clean Air Conservation Act that will allow city mayors and provincial governors to issue a directive that bans cars with even- or odd-numbered license plate numbers from operating on certain days with bad pollution.

The request will be sent to the Ministry of Environment, which has the authority to amend the enforcement ordinance.

“The ban will, in effect, be carried out by the local governments of Seoul and surrounding areas,” said Lee Byung-chul, head of the Seoul government’s air quality policy team. “It cannot be carried out by Seoul alone. We have yet to determine the exact system of how we would enforce the ban, such as having checkpoints to stop odd- or even-numbered license plates from entering the capital area, or whether to utilize police and CCTV cameras to enforce the ban.”  [Joong Ang Ilbo]

You can read more at the link.