Appeal hearing in Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon's poll payment scandal to be held today
The appellate closing hearing in Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon's political funds law violation case will be held at the Seoul High Court at 2 p.m. on the 2nd. A closing hearing is the final stage of a trial, in which the court hears arguments from both the prosecution and the defense before delivering its verdict. Following the conclusion of the defense's arguments in the day's proceedings, the special prosecutor will state its recommended sentence.
Mayor Oh is accused of violating the political funds law by receiving a total of 10 rounds of opinion polling from political broker Myeong Tae-kyun ahead of the April 7, 2021 Seoul mayoral by-election and having the cost of 33 million won covered by his supporter Kim Han-jung. At the first trial, the special prosecutor recommended a prison term of one year and six months and a fine of 33 million won. The first-trial court found Oh guilty on five of the 10 polling instances, assessed the covered costs at 21 million won, and sentenced him to a fine of 10 million won and forfeiture of 21 million won. Under the political funds law, a fine of 1 million won or more being finalized would cost Mayor Oh his position as Seoul mayor.
New testimony and evidence emerged during the appeal. Both the special prosecutor and Mayor Oh's side appealed the first-trial verdict, and the second trial began about a month later. The appellate court called political broker Myeong Tae-kyun and former People Power Party emergency response committee chairman Kim Jong-in, among others, as witnesses. Oh's side had identified the former chairman Kim as the person who actually commissioned the polling. However, Kim, testifying as a witness, denied having commissioned the polls. He testified, "I never trusted what Mr. Myeong said."
Businessman Kim Han-jung, whose case was sent to trial alongside Oh's, submitted an audio recording of a phone call with Myeong as new evidence. The recording contains Myeong saying, "Mayor Oh doesn't know." However, in a written statement, Myeong claimed the remark was "made during discussions on opposition unity strategy" and "does not mean Mayor Oh was unaware of the polling."
