BREAKING Appeals court acquits Seoul Mayor Oh in political funds case
Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon smiles as he enters the Seoul High Court for his trial, in Seoul, Friday. Joint Press Corps
An appeals court on Friday acquitted Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon of political funding charges linked to opinion polls conducted ahead of his 2021 election, overturning a conviction that threatened his political future.
The verdict given by a panel of judges at the Seoul High Court, led by Ku Hoi-geun, reversed a July sentence imposing a fine of 10 million won ($7,500) and ordering the forfeiture of 21 million won.
The case centered on allegations that Oh commissioned polls from political broker Myung Tae-kyun ahead of the 2021 Seoul mayoral by-election and had his supporter, Kim Han-jung, cover the costs. Prosecutors brought charges involving 10 polls and payments totaling 33 million won.
"Myung Tae-kyun’s testimony, which constitutes virtually the only evidence, is difficult to believe on the whole," Judge Ku said.
Under the Political Funds Act, elected officials are stripped of their seats if they receive a finalized fine of 1 million won ($750) or a heavier penalty for improper acceptance of political funds.
The central dispute was whether Oh had requested the polls and knew that Kim was paying for them. Oh’s side challenged the credibility of Myung’s account.
The lower court found that Oh had commissioned five of those polls and that Kim’s payment of 21 million won for them constituted illegal political funding.
At the final appeals hearing on Oct. 2, the special prosecutor team, led by independent counsel Min Joong-ki, sought an 18-month prison sentence and the forfeiture of 33 million won, repeating its request from the first trial.