Seoul Officials in Shock Over Death of Dongjak-gu Deputy Mayor C

Shock and Grief Among Seoul Officials
Calls Grow for Thorough Investigation Into Deputy Mayor C's Death at Guro Station

Deputy District Mayor C of Dongjak-gu, Seoul (District Mayor: Park Ilha), was found dead on the morning of March 31 after an apparent suicide. This news has left current and former high-ranking officials of the Seoul Metropolitan Government, as well as public servants from Dongjak-gu, Seocho-gu, and others who worked with Deputy Mayor C, deeply saddened.

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

It was reported that a few days earlier, Deputy Mayor C had attempted suicide but was rescued and transferred to Korea University Guro Hospital for treatment. He reportedly left the hospital in the early hours of the morning on the day of his death.

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

Upon hearing the tragic news, a former Second Deputy Mayor for Administrative Affairs of the Seoul Metropolitan Government, Mr. J, expressed his sorrow and curiosity about the cause of death, saying, "Why did this happen? He was a junior colleague I worked with in the past. He was so kind-hearted and not at all greedy. I am deeply saddened."

Another former Grade 1 official of the Seoul Metropolitan Government, also surnamed J, said, "I worked with him and know his family well. He was a very diligent person. I don't understand how this could have happened," expressing his confusion.

An executive from Seocho-gu Office shared that it was difficult to hide their grief, stating, "We have no idea why he died."

A department head from Dongjak-gu also spoke to a reporter, unable to hold back tears, and expressed sadness, saying they did not understand why this had happened.

The shock and grief among officials from the Seoul Metropolitan Government and local districts who worked with Deputy Mayor C have been heightened by the fact that this is reportedly the first time a high-ranking Seoul official has taken such an extreme step. Some are calling for a thorough investigation into the cause of death.

Deputy Mayor C entered the Seoul Metropolitan Government after passing the 35th Higher Civil Service Examination and served as Director of Transportation Policy, Director of Transportation Planning, and Deputy Mayor of Seocho-gu, among other elite civil service roles.

※ If you are struggling with depression or have concerns that are difficult to talk about, or if you have family or friends experiencing such difficulties, you can receive 24-hour counseling from professionals through the Suicide Prevention Hotline ☎1393, Mental Health Counseling Line ☎1577-0199, Lifeline ☎1588-9191, Youth Hotline ☎1388, the 'Ida Deureojulgae' app for youth mobile counseling, or KakaoTalk.