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Seoul mayor reported missing as police launch search operation Seoul mayor reported missing as police launch search operation
(about 2 hours later)
SEOUL — The mayor of the South Korean capital, Seoul, has been reported missing, and a search was underway Thursday. SEOUL — South Korean police said Thursday they are searching for the mayor of Seoul after his daughter reported him missing.
Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon’s daughter informed police that her father was missing, South Korea’s semiofficial Yonhap news agency reported, citing an anonymous police source. The search for Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon was focused on the hilly Seongbuk neighborhood in the northern part of the South Korean capital, where his phone signal was last detected, said a spokeswoman for Seoul Seongbuk Police Department. More than three hours into the search, the police had not found Park, said the spokeswoman, who spoke on the condition of anonymity under department rules.
Park’s phone signal was last detected in Seoul’s Seongbuk District earlier Thursday, and police officers were searching the vicinity, said a spokeswoman for the Seoul Seongbuk Police Department. The spokeswoman said Park had not been found as of 7 p.m. Thursday and that searches were still underway. Park's daughter called police late Thursday and said her father could not be reached on the phone, South Korea's semiofficial Yonhap news agency reported, citing an anonymous police source. She told police that Park left a “will-like” message before leaving their family home earlier that day, according to Yonhap.
The Seoul Metropolitan Government said early Thursday that Park canceled his official schedule for the day without specifying a reason. Park was scheduled to meet a presidential official Thursday afternoon at his office in Seoul City Hall. The Seoul metropolitan government said early Thursday that Park canceled his official schedule for the day without specifying a reason. Park was scheduled to meet a presidential official Thursday afternoon at his office in Seoul City Hall.
As mayor of Seoul, population 10 million, Park is considered the second most powerful elected official in South Korea after the president. The 64-year-old has been serving as Seoul mayor since 2011 and has often been considered a presidential hopeful in the 2022 election. As mayor of Seoul, population 10 million, Park is considered the second most powerful elected official in South Korea after the president. The 64-year-old began serving as Seoul mayor in 2011 and was seen as a presidential hopeful for the Liberal Party in the 2022 election.
Formerly a student activist, Park became a human rights lawyer and led influential civic groups. He has been a vocal critic of social inequality and spoke out against members of the country’s conservative elites, including former president Park Geun-hye. As mayor of Seoul, he supported rallies against the former president over a corruption scandal that eventually led to her impeachment. Formerly a student activist, Park became a human rights lawyer and led influential civic groups. He has been a vocal critic of social inequality and spoke out against members of the country’s conservative elites, including Park Geun-hye when she was president. As mayor of Seoul, he supported rallies against her over a corruption scandal that eventually led to her impeachment.