Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon Fined for Illegal Political Funds

SEOUL, July 22 (Yonhap) -- A Seoul district court on Wednesday sentenced Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon to a 10 million-won (US$6,750) fine for accepting illegal political funds in connection with opinion poll results he obtained ahead of the 2021 mayoral by-election.

The Seoul Central District Court handed down the sentence after finding him guilty on charges of violating the Political Funds Act. If the ruling is finalized through appeals, 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 punishment for violating the Political Funds Act.

Special counsel Min Joong-ki's team indicted Oh in December on charges of having a political supporter make payments totaling 33 million won for opinion poll results he received on 10 occasions from self-proclaimed power broker Myung Tae-kyun ahead of the by-election in April 2021, which he won.

The court partially recognized the charges, ruling that Oh had asked Myung for opinion polls on five occasions and his supporter paid the power broker 21 million won. The court ordered Oh to forfeit the amount.

"Despite having served as a lawmaker and Seoul mayor and being well aware of the Political Funds Act, (Oh) maintained an attitude of not admitting responsibility in court," the court said. "A sentence resulting in the loss of public office is inevitable."

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 for Oh, said the verdict was "very meaningful" and that it would consider whether to appeal.

The ruling came after Oh was reelected as Seoul mayor in the June 3 local elections to secure his fifth non-consecutive term.