Prosecutors Seek 1.5-Year Prison Term for Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon; Mayor Claims "Politically Motivated Prosecution"

[Anchor]

Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon, who is on trial for allegedly receiving public opinion polls from Myung Tae-kyun and having a donor cover the costs, is facing a prosecution demand for a one-year-and-six-month prison sentence. If a final verdict of a fine of 1 million won or more is upheld, he would lose his position as mayor. Mayor Oh strongly protested, claiming the case was a "politically motivated prosecution" orchestrated for specific purposes.

Reporter Jang Hun-gyeong has the story.

[Reporter]

Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon was indicted on charges of receiving public opinion survey services from Myung Tae-kyun ahead of the Seoul mayoral by-election in April 2021 and having a donor, Kim Han-jeong, pay the 33 million won cost on his behalf.

[Myung Tae-kyun (November last year): How would (Kim Han-jeong) make the deposit? Someone must have ordered it, and someone must have connected them, right? That person is Oh Se-hoon.]

During the final hearing held today (June 17), the special counsel team investigating Kim Keon-hee demanded a one-year-and-six-month prison sentence for Mayor Oh and the forfeiture of 33 million won.

The special counsel team pointed out, "As a prominent politician, he undermined the legislative purpose of ensuring transparency in political funds by having a third party pay for public opinion survey costs without following legal procedures."

They further emphasized that despite being the ultimate beneficiary of the crime, he has consistently denied the charges and evaded responsibility throughout the investigation and trial process.

The special counsel team also requested one-year prison sentences for former Seoul Vice Mayor for Political Affairs Kang Cheol-won and the donor, Kim, who were indicted alongside the mayor.

Mayor Oh expressed strong opposition.

In his closing statement, Mayor Oh argued, "I was indicted based solely on the words of Myung Tae-kyun and the testimony of someone who claimed to have heard him, without a single piece of direct evidence."

Mayor Oh was even interrupted by the judge while questioning the special counsel team, asking if they had a clear conscience, and claiming he was indicted by prosecutors who are subservient to politics.

[Oh Se-hoon/Seoul Mayor: This was a politically motivated prosecution specifically planned to align with the local election schedule. I intend to consider filing charges for 'legal distortion' against the special counsel team after seeing the court's verdict.]

If a fine of 1 million won or more is finalized for violating the Political Funds Act, Mayor Oh will lose his mayoral seat.

The first-instance ruling is scheduled for July 22.

(Video Editing: Kim Jin-won)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.