Park Won-soon

Park Won-soon was a South Korean politician, activist, and lawyer. He was the longest-serving mayor of Seoul, from 2011 until his death in 2020. He was a member of President Moon's liberal Democratic Party and was expected to be a possible presidential candidate in 2022. Park Won-soon was instrumental in advocating against gender discrimination and in the 1990s won what is widely considered the first sexual harassment case in the conservative society. He also campaigned for the rights of comfort women, former sex slaves for the Japanese military during World War II. He founded several nonprofit organizations, such as the People's Solidarity for Participatory Democracy and the Beautiful Foundation, to promote civic participation, transparency, and philanthropy. He was awarded the Ramon Magsaysay Award in 2006 for his contributions to democracy and human rights. As the mayor of Seoul, he initiated various policies and projects to improve the quality of life, environment, and welfare of the city's residents. He also supported the peaceful reunification of the Korean peninsula and established friendly relations with North Korea. He was known for his accessibility and responsiveness to the public, often communicating with them through social media and online platforms. He was also a vocal critic of former President Park Geun-hye and supported the mass protests that led to her impeachment and removal from office in 2017. In July 2020, Park was accused of sexually harassing his former secretary for four years. He denied the allegations and apologized to his family and the public in a note he left before he went missing. His body was found the next day in a wooded area in northern Seoul, where he apparently took his own life. His death sparked a public debate over how to balance the rights and dignity of the victim and the accused, and how to deal with the legacy of a prominent figure who had both achievements and controversies.