Seoul: Prosecutors on Thursday raided Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon's office and residence over allegations of corruption surrounding his ties with self-proclaimed power broker Myung Tae-kyun. The Seoul Central District Prosecutors Office deployed prosecutors and investigators to Oh's office at Seoul City Hall and his residence in the morning, searching for possible evidence linked to the allegations. They also conducted a raid on the residence of Kang Cheol-won, the city's former deputy mayor for public affairs.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the prosecution has been investigating suspicions that Kim Han-jung, a businessman known to be a supporter of Oh, requested the Future Korea Research Institute, a polling company effectively operated by Myung, to conduct 13 unpublished opinion polls during the 2021 Seoul mayoral by-election campaign. Kim is alleged to have covered the cost of these polls, amounting to 33 million won (US$22,650), on behalf of the Seoul mayor.
Kim allegedly transferred the money to the personal account of Kang Hye-kyung, who served as deputy head of the polling company, on five occasions between February and March 2021. The Seoul prosecution has so far summoned Kim and Oh's aides, including Kang, for questioning over the alleged connection with Myung. This case was taken over about a month ago from the Changwon District Prosecutors Office in the southeastern city of Changwon, where Myung and the polling company are based.
Myung has claimed that he met Oh seven times and had a three-way meeting involving Kim, asserting that he played an important role in Oh's election win at that time. Both Oh and Kim have denied the allegations. Oh, who filed a complaint with the prosecution against the broker late last year, accusing him of fraud, stated that he met Myung twice in January 2021 but later severed ties with him. Kim has reportedly admitted to sending money to Myung's side but insisted it has nothing to do with Oh's campaign.