PPP urges ruling party to stop shaking judiciary over acquittal of Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon

As the ruling party launched attacks on the judiciary over Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon's appellate acquittal on charges of violating the Political Funds Act, Park Sung-hoon, chief spokesman of the People Power Party (PPP), issued a statement on the 24th urging, "Immediately stop the irrational shaking of the judiciary." In his statement, Park said, "The all-out judicial attack by the Democratic Party of Korea, the Rebuilding Korea Party, and other ruling bloc lawmakers is unbearable to watch," and criticized, "Is it really the proper posture of a governing party to call it judicial justice when it suits them, label unfavorable rulings 'political verdicts,' and threaten the Chief Justice and the court?" Spokesman Park pointed out, "The ruling bloc's behavior of brandishing impeachment over every ruling it dislikes is a direct challenge to judicial independence and political blackmail and tyranny holding democracy hostage." He urged the Democratic Party and the Rebuilding Korea Party to "immediately stop their strategic impeachment threats against the judiciary and the irrational shaking of the judiciary."

Earlier, on the 23rd, the Seoul High Court's Criminal Division 7 (Chief Judge Koo Hoi-geun) acquitted Mayor Oh, who was indicted on charges of having Myung Tae-kyun ghostwrite opinion surveys and illegally cover the costs. The court found that the only direct evidence on the key issue was Myung's testimony, which it judged lacked sufficient credibility. Mayor Oh was fined 10 million won and ordered to forfeit 21 million won in the first trial, but with his acquittal on appeal, he kept his mayoral seat.

Jeon Eun-su, floor spokesperson of the Democratic Party of Korea, said at a written briefing on the 24th, "Money moved for Oh Se-hoon and opinion surveys were conducted for Oh Se-hoon, so why is Oh Se-hoon innocent?" adding, "The Supreme Court must make strict and swift judgments on the entire Myung Tae-kyun scandal and answer the public's doubts." Democratic Party leader Kim Min-seok also said, "It is a verdict that is hard to understand or accept, both legally and by common sense." Democratic Party floor spokesperson Lee Joo-hee said at a briefing at the National Assembly on the afternoon of the 24th that the appellate court also recognized that Oh's supporter Kim Han-jung paid 33 million won to Myung Tae-kyun's side, and demanded the Supreme Court correct its error. On questions about impeaching Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae, Leader Kim said, "We will proceed step by step, including a parliamentary investigation."

PPP lawmaker Yoon Sang-hyun criticized on Facebook the very idea of using Mayor Oh's acquittal as grounds for impeachment.

With this acquittal, Mayor Oh has secured both his mayoral seat and his eligibility to run for office, putting him in an advantageous position in the race for the next presidential election.