Why Do Korean Elected Mayors Resign? Applying Dobel’s Ethics of Resigning Model

Abstract

Elected mayors pledge to serve their full term; however, some resign in the middle. Thus, resigning is one of the most important ethical decisions in their pubic life. Nevertheless, studies about the ethics of resignations are rarely found; those of elected mayors even less so. The purpose of this study is to fill the current vacuum in research by explaining why Korean elected mayors resign based on Dobel’s ethics of resigning model. A qualitative analysis of 178 resignation cases between 1998 and 2014 identified the most frequent reasons for resignation as: the erosion of integrity-related capacities; confronting moral conflicts; violating legal, professional or moral norms; and the inability to influence decisions. The findings provide theoretical implications and further research questions for future studies on the ethics of resigning.