Former Cheongdo County Governor Kim Ha-soo of North Gyeongsang Province, who was defeated in the local elections last June, has been found dead.

A fire department official stated that Kim was discovered dead around 7:00 a.m. today (July 13) while they were searching a mountain in Cheongdo-eup, Cheongdo County.

During his term, Kim had been under police investigation over allegations of irregularities related to personnel appointments.

Recently, an associate suspected of being involved in the personnel irregularities took their own life, and some other individuals involved in the case have been arrested.

In January, Kim was referred to the prosecution on charges of joint trespassing after allegedly entering the home of a nursing home director without permission alongside one county office employee.

Kim sought re-election in the local elections last June after receiving the nomination from the People Power Party, but he was defeated by independent candidate Park Gwon-hyun.

※ If you or someone you know is struggling with feelings of depression or other difficult concerns, you can receive 24-hour professional counseling by calling the suicide prevention hotline at 109 or through the suicide prevention social media counseling service 'Madeul-laen'.

(Photo: Yonhap News)