(International Observation) How is the impact of Seoul’s mayor’s suicide on Korean politics?

  China News Agency, Seoul, July 13th, Question: How does the suicide of the mayor of Seoul affect Korean politics?

  China News Agency reporter Zeng Nai

  The suicide of Park Yuanchun, the mayor of Seoul, South Korea, triggered an "earthquake" in South Korean politics. Korean media analysis said that the ruling party and the opposition party will start a fierce competition in the Seoul mayor by-election next April.

  Born in 1956, Park Yuan Chun was one of the potential candidates for the next president. Before committing suicide, he was accused of "sexual harassment" by female staff.

On July 13, the late Mayor of Seoul, Park Won-sun, left the funeral and held a farewell ceremony. The picture shows Park Yuanchun's relatives, staff and other escorts to the scene of the body farewell ceremony. China News Agency reporter Zeng Nashe

 Pu Yuanchun's suicide cited public opinion controversy

  On the 13th, the farewell ceremony of Park Yuanchun's body was held. At 7 o'clock in the morning, a large number of people gathered outside the Seoul City Government building. Supporters cried and shouted, "The mayor went to a place where there are no bad people. Please rest in peace." There are also protesters who demand "investigation of the truth about sexual harassment."

  The death of Park Yuanchun has caused controversy. Over the past few days, more than 16,000 people have condolenced Pu Yuanchun at the incense burner, writing a sad yellow note on the message board. However, in response to the official mayor-level funeral for Park Yuanchun, a large number of people left messages on the Qingwatai message board and thought it was "inappropriate".

  Park Yuan-chun, who came from a poor family, has been showing the public in a clean and friendly image for many years. He was expelled from college for protesting against military dictatorship in college. After becoming a lawyer in 1983, he mainly helped defend the rights of the grassroots.

  In 2011, Park Won Sun was elected mayor of Seoul and was re-elected twice in 2014 and 2018, with a high reputation. According to official information, Park Yuan Chun held the least amount of assets among high-ranking public officials for many consecutive years, with a debt of 690 million won in 2019.

  Park Yuan Chun is regarded as a supporter of women's rights and interests. He has defended the victims of the first "sexual harassment" case in South Korea; as a mayor, he was a legal advisor to a number of female civil organizations. In events such as South Korea's "N", he publicly demanded severe punishment for perpetrators.

  Analysts believe that the sex scandal made Park Yuanchun face strong social condemnation for the "collapse of humanity" and negatively affected the public image of the ruling party.

On July 13, the late Mayor of Seoul, Park Won-sun, left the funeral and held a farewell ceremony. The picture shows many people express their condolences to Pu Yuanchun on the message board. China News Agency reporter Zeng Nashe

  The ruling party has successively "broken down soldiers"

  Park Yuan Chun is an active supporter of the Wen Zaiyin government. In the incident of former President Park Geun-hye's "confidential administration", Park Yuan-chun strongly criticized Park Geun-hye and publicly supported demonstrations; he once sued former President Li Mingbo. During the epidemic, Park Yuan Chun took strong measures such as prohibiting assembly and shutting down the church to support the central government with an "iron fist against the epidemic."

  In recent years, the ruling party has damaged many "generals". In 2019, An Xinzheng, the former governor of Chungcheongnam-do, was accused of sexually assaulting a female secretary and went to prison. He was once regarded as "Wang Zaiyin's successor". In September last year, Wen Zaiyin's "confidant" Cao Guo was questioned, and the former legal minister resigned in just over a month. In April this year, Wu Judun, the 71-year-old former Mayor of Busan, resigned suddenly because of "unnecessary physical contact" with the female staff.

  In just one year, many political stars have lost their careers. Public opinion believes that frequent negative events have caused voters to question the moral image of progressive politicians, and there may be shocks within the ruling party.

Data Map: On July 11, local time, an incense burner was built outside the Seoul City Hall in South Korea to offer condolences to the late Seoul Mayor Park Won-chun. China News Service issued Zeng Naishe

 The political situation is temporarily stable but "undercurrent surging"

  Some analysts believe that although Park Yuanchun’s death "reinvented" the ruling party, in the short term, the political situation is unlikely to have subversive changes. Unless the "Black Swan Incident" occurs, the progressive forces will continue to rule forever, but the change in the Park Yuanchun faction will affect the political arena.

  The progressive forces are still in power. In the 2016 congressional elections, the 2017 presidential election, the 2018 local elections, and this year's congressional elections, the ruling party, the Common Democracy Party, has "four consecutive victories." Especially in the April parliamentary elections, the ruling party "grabbed" 180 of the 300 parliamentary seats. The conservative forces were badly hurt.

  The mayor of Seoul is one of the most powerful positions in South Korea and is a must for all parties. Park Yuanchun has been in charge of Seoul for nearly 10 years. There are many celebrities and controversies. After his death, the political scene "undercurrents".

  The vacant post of mayor of Seoul will be elected by April next year. Yonhap News Agency and other media analyzed that this will be the most intense competition between the ruling party and the opposition party before the presidential election. Jin Zhongren, chairman of the emergency response countermeasures of the largest opposition party in the future, publicly stated that the party will invest in the mayor election with the energy equivalent to the presidential election.

  The ruling party spoke highly of Park Yuanchun. The leader of the Common Democratic Party, Lee Hae-chan, said on the 13th that "Park Won Chun is a symbol of the Korean citizen movement." The party member Park Hong-gen called on not to spread false news and not to cause pain to the survivors. (Finish)