The funeral service for Seoul mayor Park Won-soon, who took his own life after being accused of sexual harassment, was held Monday despite a petition against the city-run ceremony.

Former human rights lawyer Park was a heavyweight figure in the ruling Democratic Party and ran South Korea's sprawling capital – home to almost a fifth of the national population – for nearly a decade.

He was found dead on a mountain Friday, a day after his former secretary filed a police complaint against him, widely reported to involve sexual harassment.

The city government later released a handwritten note by Park, who said he was "sorry" to everyone.

Park's death means the investigation into the case will automatically be closed and his supporters have sought to identify the woman who complained, blaming her for his death.

Despite the controversy, the Seoul city government organized a five-day funeral for Park – two days longer than the normal Korean ritual, which begins on the day of death – and set up a memorial altar outside City Hall.

President Moon Jae-in sent flowers to the funeral and his chief of staff attended personally, as did other senior officials of the center-left Democratic Party.

More than 20,000 people came to pay their respects during the mourning period.

But more than 500,000 signatures signed an online petition on the presidential website opposing the ceremony.

Around 100 people attended the service – where numbers were limited because of the coronavirus pandemic – on Monday, the final day of the funeral.

Despite heavy rain, supporters gathered and wailed as family members arrived at City Hall carrying his portrait.

Afterwards Park's body was to be cremated and taken to his hometown in South Gyeongsang province.

(With input from AFP)