Park Won-soon

Park's son, Park Ju-shin, was accused by opponents of using falsified medical scans to obtain an exemption. A public MRI examination in 2012 confirmed that the scans matched his physical condition. Campaigners nevertheless continued circulating the suspicions. In June 2026, the Supreme Court acquitted some of those spreading the claims of criminal charges, finding, in particular, that their knowledge of falsity had not been demonstrated.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Directly implicated

Person targeted by the proceedings

those who spread the rumours

Role of the person profiled

Protagonist not prosecuted

In July 2020, a former secretary of Park Won-soon filed a complaint accusing him of sexual harassment over several years. Park's death ended the criminal investigation without a judgment. In 2021, the National Human Rights Commission nevertheless concluded that certain messages and behaviours constituted sexual harassment; an administrative court subsequently upheld the validity of that finding.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Personally implicated

Following Park's death, the city of Seoul organised a five-day municipal funeral. The decision prompted strong opposition and a presidential petition attracting several hundred thousand signatures from people who considered an official tribute inappropriate when a harassment complaint had just been filed.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Institutional responsibility

Seoul made subway and bus travel free at rush hour on days of severe pollution to encourage residents to leave their cars at home. The measure cost several billion won in a few days and was criticised for its limited effect on traffic and pollution.

State of the evidence

Documented

Legal status — source text

No legal proceedings

Attribution

Political responsibility

Documents released in 2017 fuelled suspicions that the National Intelligence Service had monitored, assessed and attempted to obstruct or discredit Park and some of his policies while he was Mayor. Park filed a complaint against former NIS officials.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Protagonist is the victim

Park launched an allowance for unemployed young people, presented as support for finding work and becoming independent. The Health Ministry concluded that Seoul had not obtained the necessary approval for a new social welfare programme and ordered its cancellation, triggering a political and administrative battle.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Political responsibility

The participatory process for drafting Seoul's Human Rights Charter stalled over explicit protection against discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation. City Hall declined to proclaim the resulting charter, prompting LGBT campaigners to occupy the building and criticise Park, who was known as a human rights lawyer.

State of the evidence

Documented

Legal status — source text

No legal proceedings

Attribution

Political responsibility

During the 2011 mayoral campaign, opponents claimed that Park's adoption by a great-uncle had been used to allow him and his brother to undertake a shorter period of supplementary military service. The matter formed part of a series of attacks on his personal background.

Attribution

Personally implicated