Appeals court acquits Seoul Mayor Oh in political funds case
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…
On Friday, an appeals court in Seoul acquitted Mayor Oh Se-hoon of political funding charges related to opinion polls conducted prior to his 2021 election, dismissing a conviction that had jeopardized his political career. The decision, made by a panel of judges led by Ku Hoi-geun at the Seoul High Court, overturned a July ruling that imposed a fine of 10 million won ($7,500) and ordered the seizure of 21 million won.
The case revolved around accusations that Oh had hired political broker Myung Tae-kyun to conduct polls ahead of the 2021 Seoul mayoral by-election and had his ally, Kim Han-jung, pay for the expenses. Prosecutors had brought charges against Oh involving 10 polls and payments amounting to 33 million won. Judge Ku stated that Myung Tae-kyun's testimony, which formed the bulk of the evidence, was fundamentally unconvincing.
Under the Political Funds Act, elected officials face removal from office if they receive a finalized fine of 1 million won ($750) or a more severe punishment for improperly accepting political funds. The main point of contention was whether Oh had initiated the polls and was aware that Kim was involved in the financial arrangements.
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