Seoul Appeals Court Weighs Political Funds Case Threatening Mayor Oh Se-hoon
Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon faces the potential loss of his office as the Seoul High Court prepares to rule Friday on whether a lower-court conviction for violating the Political Funds Act will stand, Yonhap reported. Under South Korean law, elected officials lose their seats if they receive a finalized fine of 1 million won or heavier for improper acceptance of political funds.
The high-stakes ruling centers on 33 million won in payments for ten opinion polls conducted ahead of the 2021 mayoral by-election by self-proclaimed power broker Myung Tae-kyun. Special counsel Min Joong-ki’s team appealed the initial sentence and is seeking an 18-month prison term alongside a full forfeiture of the 33 million won amount. Oh has maintained his innocence throughout the proceedings, arguing that asking a supporter to make payments on his behalf directly contradicts his political beliefs.
Lower Court Fines Seoul Mayor over Disputed Opinion Polls
In July, the lower district court partially recognized the charges against the Seoul mayor, sentencing him to a 10 million won fine and ordering a 21 million won forfeiture. That trial court found Oh guilty of asking Myung for opinion polls on five occasions and having a political supporter pay 21 million won to cover those costs. For the remaining five polls valued at 12 million won, the court acquitted Oh due to insufficient evidence.
Former Seoul Vice Mayor for Political Affairs Kang Cheol-won and businessman Kim Han-jung were also convicted in connection to the proxy payments, receiving fines of 3 million won and 5 million won respectively. The appeals court will evaluate the cases of all three defendants during Friday’s live-broadcasted sentencing hearing.
New Recordings and Legal Arguments on Appeal
The central variable in the appellate proceedings is a set of three newly submitted recorded phone calls between Myung and Kim that were absent during the first trial. Oh’s legal team points to these recordings to demonstrate that the mayor had no knowledge of the poll push and that Kim bore the expenses independently. Defense attorneys also argued that the timeline of Myung’s claims does not align with Oh’s public schedule at the time.
Conversely, the special counsel maintains that contact records, payment logs, and circumstantial evidence surrounding the poll distribution establish Oh’s direct involvement. Myung countered that remarks in the audio regarding Oh’s lack of knowledge actually referred to the opposition’s single-candidate unification strategy rather than the survey itself.
Observers have noted that the presiding panel, Seoul High Court Criminal Division 7 led by Presiding Judge Gu Hoe-geun, recently acquitted former President Yoon Suk-yeol in a separate case involving the free provision of a Myeong Tae-kyun poll. However, Oh’s proceedings involve actual survey expense payments made by a supporter, making the core legal question whether a mutual agreement or proxy payment request can be proven.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Seoul Mayor Trial
What specific penalty would force Mayor Oh Se-hoon out of office?
Under South Korean political funding laws, any finalized criminal fine of 1 million won or a heavier punishment will strip Oh of his mayoral seat. The lower court previously issued a 10 million won fine, which triggers removal if upheld by the appeals court and finalized.
How many polls are actively disputed in the legal proceedings?
The case originally involved 10 public opinion polls valued at 33 million won. The first trial convicted Oh regarding five of those polls worth 21 million won, while acquitting him on the remaining five due to a lack of evidence.
Who are the other defendants tried alongside the Seoul mayor?
Former Seoul Vice Mayor for Political Affairs Kang Cheol-won and businessman Kim Han-jung were tried and fined in the lower court for their roles in facilitating the survey expense payments.
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