Oh Se-hoon Acquitted in Second Trial of 'Political Funds Act' Case… Overturning First Instance Verdict

Credibility of Myung Tae-kyun's testimony rejected… "Prosecution's facts not proven beyond reasonable doubt"
Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon heads to court on 'Day of Destiny'
(Seoul=Yonhap News) Reporter Kim Ju-hyeong = Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon is heading to the courtroom at the Seoul High Court in Seocho-gu, Seoul, on the 23rd, the sentencing date for the appeal regarding the 'allegations of Myung Tae-kyun's opinion poll expenses being paid on his behalf,' a case that will determine whether he retains his position as Mayor of Seoul. 2026.10.23 [Joint Coverage]kjhpress@yna.co.kr
(Seoul=Yonhap News) Reporters Lee Young-seop and Lee Bal-geum = Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon, who was indicted over the 'allegations of Myung Tae-kyun's opinion poll expenses being paid on his behalf,' has been found not guilty in the second trial.
The guilty verdict from the first instance has been overturned.
The 7th Criminal Division of the Seoul High Court (Presiding Judge Koo Hoe-geun) acquitted Mayor Oh, who was prosecuted for violating the Political Funds Act.
Acquittals were also handed down to Kang Chul-won, a former Vice Mayor for Political Affairs of Seoul and close aide to Mayor Oh, and Kim Han-jeong, a supporter, who were indicted alongside him.
The first instance had sentenced Mayor Oh to a fine of 10 million won and a collection of 21 million won. The Special Prosecutor Min Joong-gi's team had sought a sentence of 1 year and 6 months in prison and a collection of 33 million won in the second trial.
The second trial ruled that it was not sufficiently proven that Mayor Oh received opinion poll results from Myung Tae-kyun a total of 10 times ahead of the April 7, 2021, Seoul mayoral by-election and had businessman Kim, a long-time supporter, pay 33 million won in expenses on his behalf.
Acquittal in appeal, Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon expresses his position
(Seoul=Yonhap News) Reporter Kim Ju-hyeong = Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon is expressing his position regarding the not guilty verdict following the sentencing hearing for the appeal of the 'Myung Tae-kyun opinion poll expense payment allegations' held at the Seoul High Court in Seocho-gu, Seoul, on the 23rd. 2026.10.23kjhpress@yna.co.kr
The court noted, "The only direct evidence regarding the core issue of this case is the testimony of Myung Tae-kyun."
It further judged that when synthesizing the specific facts related to this case, it is difficult to believe Myung's testimony in its entirety.
Additionally, the court pointed out that the prosecution's facts were not proven beyond reasonable doubt, stating, "It is difficult to see that there is sufficient grounds to trust only parts of Myung Tae-kyun's testimony, or that sufficient other evidence has been presented to corroborate that testimony."
Previously, the first instance had judged parts of Myung's testimony to be credible and used them as the basis for a guilty verdict.
The 10 million won fine sentenced in the first instance constitutes a sentence that results in the loss of the mayoral position.
According to Article 57 of the Political Funds Act, if a person is sentenced to a fine of 1 million won or more for the crime of illegal receipt of political funds, they cannot hold or be appointed to public office for five years after the sentence becomes final. If they have already taken office or been appointed, they must resign.
Therefore, had the first instance sentence been finalized, Mayor Oh would have lost his position and would have been unable to run in the next presidential election.