Dongjak Deputy District Mayor Found Dead Suddenly... Staff Deeply Grieved

Deputy District Mayor C Found Dead at Guro Station
Dongjak District Office Shrouded in Grief After Apparent Suicide

The atmosphere at Dongjak District Office in Seoul (headed by Mayor Park Ilha) is reportedly deeply somber after Deputy District Mayor C, a member of the office, was found dead on the morning of March 31 following an apparent suicide.

According to the Guro Police Station and Guro Fire Station, Deputy District Mayor C was discovered deceased inside Guro Station at approximately 7:39 a.m. that day.

It has been reported that Deputy District Mayor C had previously attempted suicide several days earlier, was rescued, and then transferred to Korea University Guro Hospital for treatment. However, he left the hospital early in the morning on the day of his death.

After receiving a missing person report, the police focused their efforts on locating Deputy District Mayor C, but ultimately found him deceased.

In response to the news, officials at Dongjak District Office have been unable to hide their grief. One senior official at the office expressed sorrow, saying, "He was such a kind deputy mayor. I can't understand why he would make such an extreme choice."

Deputy District Mayor C was an elite public official who entered the Seoul Metropolitan Government through the 35th National Civil Service Examination and held various positions, including Director of Transportation Policy, Director of Transportation Planning, and Deputy District Mayor of Seocho District.

He was not only highly competent in his work but also known for his kind-hearted nature, which earned him the respect and affection of both senior officials and junior staff, making the news even more heartbreaking for those around him.

Meanwhile, before joining Dongjak District Office as Deputy District Mayor on August 8, 2022, he served as Deputy District Mayor at Seocho District Office for over seven years. As a result, staff at Seocho District Office were also unable to hide their sadness upon hearing the tragic news.

One senior official from Seocho District Office said, "It is heartbreaking that something like this happened to such a kind and smart deputy mayor. Thinking about what could have made things so difficult for him brings me to tears."

※ If you are struggling with depression or difficult thoughts, or if you have family or friends facing such challenges, you can receive 24-hour counseling from professionals through the Suicide Prevention Hotline at 1393, the Mental Health Counseling Line at 1577-0199, the Lifeline at 1588-9191, the Youth Hotline at 1388, the 'Ida Deureojul Gae' app for youth mobile counseling, or via KakaoTalk.