The minor progressive Justice Party decided Wednesday not to field candidates in the April mayoral by-elections after its leader was expelled for a sexual abuse scandal last week. 

The party announced the decision at a meeting of its national committee, saying that it will not compete in the mayoral by-elections in Seoul and Busan. 

Party spokesperson Jeong Ho-jin said that the party decided not to nominate candidates as a way to abide by the principle of responsible politics. 

Kim Jong-cheol resigned as head of the party last Monday after admitting to sexually harassing a female lawmaker of the same party. He was expelled three days later. 

The nation is set to hold mayoral by-elections in Seoul and Busan on April 7 as the posts have remained vacant since then Busan Mayor Oh Keo-don resigned in April and Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon died by apparent suicide in July, both amid accusations of sexual harassment and assault.