Seoul city Mayor Park Won-soon found dead, South Korean police confirm

July 9, 2020 , the mayor of Seoul, South Korea, was found dead, police reported Friday morning, local time (+0900). He was reported missing Thursday evening by the police. Park was 64 years old.

Park Won-soon's body was found at Mount Bukak. According to initial reports, the police have been investigating the specifics about the cause of his death.

According to local reports, the 64-year-old mayor left his home a quarter before 11 a.m. on Thursday with a backpack. At about 5:17 p.m. his daughter reported to the police he  Park's phone was last active in the north-east region of Seoul in,  reported.

The Seoul government said Park had cancelled his entire Thursday schedule.

A large search operation was launched, involving over 500 police officers and firefighters.

Shortly before Park Won-soon's death, on Wednesday a case was reportedly filed against him by a former secretery concerning, and the police had said they would be investigating the allegations.

Park was elected mayor of the capital city in 2011. He was re-elected twice, in 2014 and 2018. His current term was through 2021.