Won Hee-ryong: "A Culture Lenient Toward Politicians Who Commit Suicide May Encourage Suicide"

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] Won Hee-ryong, Governor of Jeju and a leading opposition presidential candidate, criticized the glorification of the late Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon by some within the ruling party, stating that "a culture that is overly lenient toward politicians who have committed suicide can encourage suicide."

On the 16th, Governor Won wrote on Facebook, "What I want to clearly say is that such deaths of politicians in our society must no longer occur, nor should they be glorified."

He revealed his feelings, saying, "The death of the late Mayor Park was a great shock to me, as we had various connections. After a period of mourning and remembrance, even now, as the time for truth approaches, I have been deeply contemplating what to say."

He added, "Avoiding the public responsibility entrusted by the citizens of Seoul through death as a result of private misconduct is not the image of a politician that citizens expect. A culture that is overly lenient toward politicians who have committed suicide can encourage suicide. Perhaps we are all accomplices to such a culture," expressing his concern.

Governor Won stated, "They may have been driven to atone through death to avoid political and moral responsibilities that should be borne together. Just as merits cannot completely erase faults, death cannot cover all faults. We must now end the culture of avoiding responsibility through suicide."

He emphasized, "We must no longer tolerate politicians, for whom suicide should be taboo, sending the message that they can escape responsibility and criticism through suicide. If suicide leads to excessive glorification of merits and undue minimization of faults repeatedly, it must stop. While we mourn the death of the late Mayor Park, this is why we must have the courage to face the truth."