Police Search for Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon for Over 4 Hours... Former Secretary Accuses Him of Sexual Harassment (Comprehensive Report 2)

[Asia Economy Reporters Seungyoon Song, Donghoon Jeong, Jeongyun Lee] On the 9th, a report was received that Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon was missing, and the police have been searching for four hours. However, Mayor Park has not yet been found.

According to the police, Mayor Park's daughter called 112 at around 5:11 PM, saying, "About 4 to 5 hours ago, my father left home after leaving what seemed like a farewell message, and I cannot contact him." Mayor Park's cellphone is currently turned off, and the last signal was confirmed near Gilsangsa Temple in Seongbuk-gu, Seoul.

The police deployed two companies of the riot police, detectives, drones, and police dogs to conduct a focused search around Gilsangsa Temple at the foot of Bukaksan Mountain and the Waryong Park area. However, more than four hours after the report was received, Mayor Park's whereabouts have not been confirmed.

Accordingly, the police and fire authorities moved the command post, which was set up near the Finnish Ambassador's residence in Seongbuk-gu where Mayor Park's cellphone last signal was detected, to the parking lot of the Korea Furniture Museum near the ambassador's residence around 9 PM to prepare for an overnight search. Ambulances and other emergency vehicles are on standby in the Seongbuk-gu area in case Mayor Park is found.

There were rumors that Mayor Park was found dead and transported to Seoul National University Hospital, but the police denied these reports. Currently, reporters are gathered near the Finnish Ambassador's residence, Mayor Park's official residence in Gahoe-dong, and Seoul National University Hospital.

It is known that Mayor Park was accused of sexual harassment by a former secretary the day before. Mayor Park's former secretary, Ms. A, filed a complaint at the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency with a lawyer the previous night. Ms. A was questioned until early morning.

Ms. A, who worked as Mayor Park's secretary in 2017, reportedly testified that she was repeatedly sexually harassed by Mayor Park. It is also reported that Mayor Park sent several personal photos via Telegram on his cellphone and submitted the conversation contents as evidence.

Earlier, it was investigated that Mayor Park left the official residence in Gahoe-dong, Jongno-gu, at 10:44 AM that day. At the time of going out, he was wearing a black hat, a dark-colored jumper, black pants, gray shoes, and carrying a black backpack. The Seoul city government notified the press corps by text message at around 10:40 AM, just before Mayor Park left, stating, "The schedule has been canceled due to unavoidable circumstances."