A Seoul district court on Wednesday sentenced Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon to a 10 million-won fine for accepting illegal political funds ahead of the 2021 mayoral by-election.
The Seoul Central District Court found Oh guilty of violating the Political Funds Act. The court partially recognized the charges, ruling that Oh had asked Myung Tae-kyun for opinion polls on five occasions and his supporter paid the power broker 21 million won. The court ordered Oh to forfeit that amount.
Oh told reporters he would appeal, claiming the court had only considered Myung's testimonies and indirect evidence. The special counsel team, which had demanded an 18-month prison term and a forfeit of 33 million won, said the verdict was meaningful and that it would consider whether to appeal.
If the ruling is finalized, Oh will lose his mayoral post. Under the law, elected officials are stripped of their seats if they receive a finalized fine of 1 million won or heavier for violating the Political Funds Act. Oh was reelected as Seoul mayor in the June 3 local elections to secure his fifth non-consecutive term.
