Seoul:The main opposition People Power Party (PPP) has expressed its approval of an appeals court decision acquitting Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon in a significant political funds trial. In contrast, the ruling Democratic Party (DP) has called for an immediate appeal against the ruling.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the Seoul High Court overturned a lower court's conviction that had previously fined Mayor Oh 10 million won (approximately US$7,500) for allegedly violating the Political Funds Act during the 2021 mayoral by-election. The PPP, to which Oh is affiliated, welcomed the acquittal, emphasizing the continuity of city administration under Oh's leadership. The PPP's chief spokesperson, Park Choong-kwon, commented that the ruling demonstrates that "the truth always prevails in the end."
The charges against Oh involved allegations that a political supporter made payments totaling 33 million won for opinion polls received from Myung Tae-kyun, a self-proclaimed power broker, ahead of the 2021 election. Under the Political Funds Act, elected officials face losing their positions if fined 1 million won or more for improper acceptance of political funds.
The DP criticized the acquittal as contrary to public expectations and labeled the ruling as "unreasonable." DP senior spokesperson Park Sung-joon noted the court's dismissal of allegations regarding illegal payments, suggesting the testimony of Myung was deemed unreliable. Additionally, Park criticized the appellate court for acting like a "vending machine" for acquittals, referencing a recent case involving former President Yoon Suk Yeol.
DP floor leader Han Byung-do echoed the criticism, expressing regret over the court's decision and urging a special counsel team to appeal the ruling to the Supreme Court. Han's statement highlighted the sentiment that the court's ruling defied common sense and did not align with public expectations.