Busan mayor steps down over sexual harassment
Busan Mayor Oh Keo-don bows his head in a press conference at Busan City Hall, Thursday, to apologize for having sexually harassed a civil servant. He announced his resignation from the post the same day. / Yonhap
By Jun Ji-hye
Busan Mayor Oh Keo-don stepped down from his position, Thursday, admitting to having sexually harassed a civil servant.
“I made inappropriate physical contact in a recent meeting with the civil servant that lasted for five minutes,” Oh said in a press conference at Busan City Hall. “I realized that it was an indecent assault. I bow my head, and extend an apology for my actions.”
The announcement came as a surprise to citizens as Oh, who was elected as the city's mayor in 2018, was supposed to be in office until 2022.
Oh is a member of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK).
He was speculated to have suffered a health issue, but the reason for his resignation turned out to be sexual harassment.
According to sources, the victim and her family strongly called for him to quit.
Oh had taken time off from April 14, and refrained from making public appearances.
“I am aware that I made an unforgivable mistake,” he said. “I can no longer serve as Busan mayor, a position given to me by Busan citizens.”
Stressing that he was taking full responsibility, he asked citizens and the media to protect the victim.
Following Oh's resignation, a deputy mayor will serve as acting mayor of the nation's largest port city until a by-election can take place in April next year.
The DPK plans to hold an ethics commission, Friday, to decide on whether to expel Oh.