Park Won-soon was reported missing by his daughter, at around 5 p.m. Thursday (4 a.m. ET), according to a police official familiar with the case.
The 64-year-old longtime civic activist, who has been Seoul’s mayor since 2011, is seen as a likely hopeful for the liberals in the 2022 presidential elections.
When Park was elected in a landslide victory against the ruling party nearly a decade ago — with no political ties or experience — it sparked a public frenzy. His unexpected rise to the second most powerful position in the country was seen as a sign that
South Koreans were tired of traditional politics.
South Koreans were tired of traditional politics.
The former human rights lawyer, who ran independently but forged an alliance with opposition parties, championed city welfare projects and became a symbol of reform.
He was reelected as mayor in 2014 and again in 2018.
This is a developing story, more to come …