The body of Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon was discovered by authorities just hours after his daughter reported his disappearance and warned that he had recorded “a will-like” phone message.
Park’s body was found in the hills near the northern part of South Korea’s capital about seven hours after a search led by the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency involving hundreds of officers had begun. The body was uncovered near a traditional restaurant and banquet hall, according to the Associated Press.
Although the cause of death has not yet been released and is still under investigation, the Korea Herald reported that it is a suspected suicide. Park’s daughter called police on Thursday to report her father had left a message that sounded like a will before he vanished and later switched off his cellphone.
The discovery comes after South Korea’s SBS television network reported that one of Park’s secretaries had filed a sexual harassment complaint against him on Wednesday, although officials have not confirmed the veracity of the report.
Park was a well-known politician and human rights lawyer who was first elected as Seoul’s mayor in 2011. His name had been floated as a potential 2022 presidential candidate.
