Oh Se-hoon Sentenced to Annulment of Election: “Ruling Lacks Direct Evidence... Will Appeal” (Comprehensive)

"I Cannot Accept This, All Should Be Not Guilty"
Oh Se-hoon Vows to Appeal After Receiving 10 Million Won Fine in First Trial
Oh Se-hoon: "An Unjust Ruling Based Only on Circumstantial Evidence"

Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon attended a seminar hosted by the Korea Future Innovation Forum held at the National Assembly Members' Office Building on the 24th and gave a lecture titled "Diagnosis of the June 3 Local Elections and Future Tasks – Restoration of Conservative Values and the Future." 2026.6.24 Photo by Hyunmin Kim

Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon was sentenced to a fine of 10 million won in the first trial, an amount that constitutes the annulment of his election, on charges of receiving poll results from Myung Tae-kyun and having a supporter pay for the service on his behalf. If this ruling is upheld by the Supreme Court, Mayor Oh will lose his position as Seoul Mayor. Mayor Oh’s representatives immediately announced their intention to appeal, calling the judgment “unjust and unsupported by direct evidence.”

The 22nd Criminal Division of the Seoul Central District Court, presided over by Chief Judge Cho Hyeongu, delivered the verdict at 2 p.m. on July 22, sentencing Mayor Oh to a fine of 10 million won for violating the Political Funds Act. Kang Cheol-won, former Deputy Mayor for Political Affairs of Seoul, who was also brought to trial, received a fine of 3 million won, while Kim Han-jeong, a supporter accused of covering the public opinion poll fees on behalf of Myung, was fined 5 million won.

According to the Public Official Election Act, if a sentence of 1 million won or more is confirmed for violating the Political Funds Act, eligibility to run for election is revoked. A local government head deprived of eligibility must immediately step down from office, rendering the election result void.

Mayor Oh had been indicted on charges of receiving the results of ten polls (three public, seven private) from Myung ahead of the April 7, 2021 mayoral by-election, and having supporter Kim pay approximately 33 million won in survey fees via Kang, who was then chief of staff. The court determined that 21 million won (the cost of five polls) corresponded to illegal payment of poll expenses and found Mayor Oh guilty on those counts.

Immediately after the verdict, Mayor Oh, leaving the courtroom with a stern expression, strongly criticized the court’s guilty ruling. Speaking to reporters as he exited, Mayor Oh stated, “I am truly sorry for causing concern to the public,” adding, “Of the ten polls, today’s court recognized five as violations, but I cannot accept this. The true verdict for all should be not guilty.”

He particularly questioned the admissibility of the court’s evidence, saying, “There was only the testimony of the notorious liar Myung Tae-kyun and circumstantial evidence—there was absolutely no direct evidence. The ruling was based on the presumption that Myung’s statements were correct. I will fight fiercely in the appeals court,” making his intention to appeal clear.

Previously, Special Prosecutor Min Jungki’s team characterized the funds delivered by supporter Kim to Myung as illegal political contributions for Mayor Oh and former Deputy Mayor Kang. The special prosecutor considered the acts of these three individuals to be “illegal donations and receipt” as forbidden by Article 45, Clause 1 of the Political Funds Act. In December of last year, the special prosecutor indicted all three and sought a prison sentence of one year and six months for Mayor Oh.

With Mayor Oh having received a sentence that carries the loss of office in the first trial, it is inevitable that both his administrative capacity as mayor and his prospects for future political advancement will be significantly affected, regardless of the outcomes of the appellate and Supreme Court reviews.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.