- Title: Seoul residents express regret over mayor's death
- Date: 10th July 2020
- Summary: SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA (JULY 10, 2020) (REUTERS) ***WARNING: CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** SEOUL SQUARE IN FRONT OF CITY HALL/ LETTERS READING (English): "I SEOUL U" SOUTH KOREAN NATIONAL FLAG (CENTRE) AND CITY FLAGS VARIOUS OF PEOPLE HOLDING UMBRELLA WALKING ON STREET (SOUNDBITE) (Korean) 30-YEAR-OLD SEOUL CITIZEN, WHO ASKED TO BE IDENTIFIED ONLY AS LEE, SAYING: "I don't know if it was guilt or embarrassment, but I was disappointed (at the sexual harassment allegations) as a Seoul citizen. His death is irresponsible as it hurts the victim again." SEOUL SQUARE PEOPLE WALKING ON STREET (SOUNDBITE) (Korean) 38-YEAR-OLD SEOUL CITIZEN, JEON SUNG-JAE, SAYING: "I saw the news report that he was found (dead) this morning. I feel sorry, but apart from the fact that he could have made an apology to the victim in another way, there needed to be a clear explanation (on the sexual harassment) as there are the victim's statement and evidence photo." PEOPLE WALKING ON STREET EXTERIOR OF SEOUL CITY HALL WORDS READING (Korean and English): "SEOUL CITY HALL" ACTING MAYOR OF SEOUL, SEO JEONG-HYUP, WALKING TOWARD PODIUM/ BLACK RIBBON ON HIS JACKET, WORDS ON RIBBON READING (Chinese): "CONDOLENCES" SEO STANDING AT PODIUM JOURNALISTS AT NEWS CONFERENCE ROOM (SOUNDBITE) (Korean) ACTING MAYOR OF SEOUL, SEO JEONG-HYUP, SAYING: "I express my deepest condolences to the citizens. City affairs should be firmly continued without a break according to Mayor Park Won-soon's values that prioritised stability and welfare. From today, I work as an acting mayor." CITY OFFICIALS AND JOURNALIST AT NEWS CONFERENCE SEO BOWING AND WALKING AWAY
- Embargoed: 24th July 2020 05:20
- Keywords: Park Won-soon Seoul South Korea death mayor news conference reaction
- Location: SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA
- City: SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA
- Country: South Korea
- Topics: Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA001CM86D6V
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Seoul residents on Friday (July 10) expressed shock and regret over the sudden death of the city's mayor, a women's rights advocate and lawyer who many saw as a potential presidential candidate in 2022.
Park Won-soon, one of South Korea's most prominent elected officials and mayor of the capital Seoul since 2011, was found dead on early Friday after he was reported missing by his daughter amid a criminal probe and media reports of alleged sexual harassment.
"I don't know if it was guilt or embarrassment, but I was disappointed (at the sexual harassment allegations) as a Seoul citizen. His death is irresponsible as it hurts the victim again," said a Seoul resident and office worker, who asked to be identified only by her surname Lee.
The apparent suicide came after one of Park's former secretaries filed a complaint alleging the 64-year-old had sexually harassed her, the Yonhap news agency reported.
Police confirmed a criminal complaint had been made against Park but did not elaborate on the nature of the allegations. Seo Jeong-hyup, first vice mayor for administrative affairs, will take Park's place as acting mayor.
(Production: Dogyun Kim, Daewoung Kim, Minwoo Park) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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