The prosecution is conducting a search and seizure at the residence and office of Kim Han-jeong, who is suspected of covering the expense of a public opinion poll for Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon. Kim is known to be a long-time supporter of Mayor Oh.

Oh Se-hoon, Mayor of Seoul. / Courtesy of News1
Oh Se-hoon, Mayor of Seoul. / Courtesy of News1

On the 26th, the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office's dedicated investigation team for the Myung Tae-kyun suspicion, led by Vice Administrator Lee Ji-hyung, stated that they are conducting a search and seizure at Kim's residence and office in relation to the suspicion of covering the expense of a public opinion poll during the 2021 by-election for Seoul mayor.

Kim is facing allegations that he covered about 30 million won in investigation expenses for a polling company that Myung Tae-kyun is suspected of owning during the Seoul mayoral by-election process in February 2021. At that time, Mayor Oh and People's Power lawmaker Ahn Cheol-soo were competing for the mayoral candidacy. Mayor Oh defeated Ahn in the public opinion poll competition and became the single candidate, but there are suspicions that some of these polls were conducted by the polling company Future Korea Research Institute, which is operated by Myung.

In connection with this allegation, the civic group Justice for Judicial Reform filed a complaint with the prosecution against Mayor Oh and Kim for violating political fund laws last November.

The prosecution is continuing the investigation, having transferred the case related to Myung from the Changwon District Prosecutors' Office to the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office on the 17th.