Seoul Mayor Oh out and about after politically crucial appeals case aquittal

Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon returned to a full public schedule on Saturday, a day after an appeals court acquitted him of illegal political funding charges that could have cost him his post.

Oh was indicted last December on charges of commissioning 10 opinion polls from political broker Myung Tae-kyun ahead of the 2021 Seoul mayoral by-election and arranging for businessperson Kim Han-jeong, one of Oh’s supporters, to cover the cost.

A lower court sentenced Oh to a 10 million won ($7,600) fine, but the appeals court overturned the ruling and acquitted him on Friday.

The decision dramatically removed the threat that Oh could lose his post as Seoul mayor.

Under Korean campaign funding laws, a person is banned from holding public for five years if they receive a final fine of at least one million won for receiving illegal political funds. Had the lower court decision held, Oh would not only have lost his post as Seoul mayor, but he would have also been barred from running for president in 2030.

However, Oh is not completely out of the woods as the special counsel plans to appeal the decision to the Supreme Court.

Oh attended the Gukhaeng Suryukjae ceremony at Jingwan Temple in Eunpyeong District, northern Seoul, on Saturday. The ceremony, a traditional Buddhist ritual dating back to the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910), prays for a world in which all living beings are respected and coexist peacefully.

“This year’s theme, ‘The whole world is one family,’ teaches us that all life is connected and that no one’s suffering is unrelated to us,” Oh said during the ceremony. “The Seoul Metropolitan Government will also work to build a warm and dependable community that protects the dignity of every citizen and does not turn away from neighbors in desperate need of help.”

Later that day, the mayor attended a memorial event marking the fourth anniversary of the Itaewon crowd crush to honor the victims and comfort their bereaved families. More than 150 people were killed due to a crowd surge during Halloween festivities in the Itaewon neighborhood in Yongsan District, central Seoul, on Oct. 29, 2022.

He later attended a ceremony at the Garden of Gratitude in Gwanghwamun Square, Jongno District, central Seoul, to mark Sweden’s donation of a rare stone to the site in honor of Swedes who helped South Korea during the 1950-53 Korean War.

“Korea will never forget Sweden’s noble humanitarian spirit and solidarity in refusing to turn away from the suffering of a distant country,” Oh said.

The mayor also made an unannounced visit to a family sports event for National Assembly photojournalists.

“The general election is approaching,” Oh told reporters there. “The [main opposition] People Power Party will give the public more reassurance when it shows unity and cohesion rather than division.”

Oh also responded to calls from the ruling bloc to impeach Supreme Court Chief Justice Jo Hee-de following Oh’s acquittal.

Some Democratic Party lawmakers had previously called for Jo’s impeachment after taking issue with the chief justice's refusal to recommend a new candidate for a Supreme Court justice — as requested by the Blue House.

“Remarks that seem to assume elected power stands above the three branches of government are pouring out repeatedly,” Oh said. “I urge both the executive and legislative branches to exercise restraint rather than wield excessive power simply because one party holds a majority.”

BY KIM JI-HYE [[email protected]]