The special counsel team led by Min Joong-ki, investigating various allegations involving Kim Keon-hee, on the 1st indicted Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon and others in connection with the alleged proxy payment for a public opinion poll.
The Min Joong-ki special counsel team said that that afternoon it indicted Mayor Oh, former Seoul Vice Mayor for Political Affairs Kang Cheol-won, and businessman and fundraising chair Kim Han-jeong on charges of violating the Political Funds Act.
According to the special counsel team, Mayor Oh is suspected of asking Myung Tae-gyun, described as a "political broker," to conduct a related public opinion poll ahead of the 2021 Seoul mayoral by-election. He also instructed then–campaign chief of staff Kang, who later became vice mayor, to consult with Myung and carry out the poll. He asked Kim to support the poll expense.
In response to Mayor Oh's request, Myung conducted 10 public and nonpublic opinion polls on the Seoul mayoral by-election from Jan. 22 to Feb. 28, 2021. Former Vice Mayor Kang also stayed in contact with Myung and exchanged poll questionnaires. Kim is accused of making a total of five payments between Feb. 1 and March 26, 2021, amounting to 33 million won, under the heading of poll expense.
The Seoul mayoral by-election was held on Apr. 7 of the same year. Running as the People Power Party candidate, Mayor Oh won with 57.5% of the vote, defeating Democratic Party of Korea candidate Park Young-sun (39.2%).
The special counsel team summoned Mayor Oh on the 8th of last month and questioned him for 12 hours. A face-to-face examination with Myung also lasted about six hours. Myung claims that on Jan. 22, 2021, Mayor Oh called four times to ask for a poll and said he would "go to Kim to borrow 20 million won for the poll expense." However, Mayor Oh said in the special counsel inquiry, "I did not speak with Myung that day, and I did not meet Kim."