Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon Fined for Illegal Polling Expenses Risks Losing Office

Court Findings on Political Funding and Polling

The Seoul Central District Court’s 22nd Criminal Division, led by Presiding Judge Jo Hyeong-woo, determined that Mayor Oh Se-hoon had a clear motive for utilizing the services of political broker Myung Tae-kyun during the 2021 by-election. According to Hani, the court noted that at the time, Oh was struggling with a weakened political standing after a previous election loss, and internal polling data frequently showed rival candidate Na Kyung-won leading him.

The legal proceedings focused on a total of 10 instances—three public and seven private—where Oh allegedly received polling data from Myung. The court found that Oh’s then-political affairs deputy mayor, Kang Cheol-won, facilitated a process where a supporter, identified as Kim Han-jeong, covered 33 million won in polling costs. While the defense contested these claims, the court concluded that 21 million won of that amount specifically constituted an illegal political fund donation, as reported by Kyeonggi.

Sentencing and Potential Removal from Office

The 10 million won fine imposed on Mayor Oh is a significant legal threshold. Under South Korean law, a fine of 1 million won or more for a violation of the Political Funds Act results in the invalidation of an election victory. As IKBC reported, if this sentence is upheld in subsequent appeals, Oh would lose his position as mayor. Alongside the fine, the court ordered a forfeiture of 21 million won.

The court also handed down sentences to Oh’s associates involved in the scheme. Kang Cheol-won, the former deputy mayor, received a 3 million won fine, while the supporter, Kim Han-jeong, was fined 5 million won. The prosecution had originally sought much harsher penalties, including a 1-year and 6-month prison term for Oh and 1-year terms for both Kang and Kim.

Judicial Rationale and Defense Response

However, the court did acknowledge mitigating factors, noting that the events were confined to a roughly one-month period during the party primary and that there was no evidence of direct contact or a continued relationship between Oh and Myung after the election. The court also noted that the polling results were largely unfavorable to Oh, making it difficult to prove that he had actively directed the broker to manipulate public opinion.

Stakes for the Future of the Seoul Mayoral Seat

The case now moves to the appellate stage, where the legal battle over the legitimacy of the campaign funding will continue. Should the 10 million won fine be confirmed by higher courts, the electoral consequences go beyond the immediate loss of the mayoral seat. Under current statutes, a final conviction of this nature would strip Oh of his right to run for office or hold any public position for a period of five years.

The political implications of this ruling remain a point of contention. As the case proceeds to the upper courts, the focus remains on whether the evidence provided will be sufficient to maintain the current conviction or if the defense can successfully argue that the financial arrangements did not meet the legal definition of an illegal political contribution.