‘I’m sorry,’ says Seoul mayor in his will left behind

ANKARA

The deceased Seoul mayor expressed regret for “causing pain” in a letter found at his residence following his death.

Park Won-soon, 64, was reported missing by his family on Thursday and was found dead hours after a massive manhunt with police dogs and drones.

The local authorities in Seoul, the capital of South Korea, said a funeral will be held for the three-time mayor, Yonhap News Agency reported.

In the letter made public by the Seoul authorities, Park said he was “sorry to all people” and specifically mentioned that he was “sorry to his family for causing only pain”.

An ex-official from Park’s office reportedly had filed a criminal complaint against him. Reports also linked the case to an alleged sexual assault.

But Park’s will did not mention any specific reason.

There are allegations of unwanted "physical contact" and exchange of "inappropriate" messages by the deceased mayor. However, no official statement has been released about the case which stands automatically terminated upon the mayor's death.

After hours-long search, police found his body after midnight on Friday local time in the woods of Mount Bugak, near his official residence in central Seoul.

Police, however, said there were “no signs of foul play,” they are yet to know the “exact cause” of his death.

A missing report by his daughter was filed with police at around 5.17 p.m. (0817GMT) on Thursday.

“He had left home four to five hours ago after leaving words like a will, with his phone currently off,” read the report filed by Parks’ daughter.

The officials at the local government headed by Park said the mayor “did not show up for work during the day because of health issues.”

The Thursday daily schedule was canceled including a meeting set in Park’s office due to "inevitable circumstances,” the officials had notified.

Park asked to cremated and scattered at his parent's graves.