Oh Se-hoon, the Seoul mayor, said on the 4th regarding the trial over allegations that Myung Tae-gyun's polling expenses were paid by a third party, "I urged a swift investigation, and the election period and the trial period ended up coinciding," adding, "It's too suspicious to brush off as merely a coincidence."
Meeting reporters as he appeared for the related trial for the first time that day, Oh said, "I think many people can infer what this suggests."
At 10 a.m. that day, before the Seoul Central District Court's Criminal Agreement Division 22, he will face the first hearing together with former Seoul Vice Mayor for Political Affairs Kang Cheol-won and Kim Han-jung.
According to the indictment by the special counsel investigating Kim Keon-hee, Oh was charged with receiving polling results from Myung Tae-gyun's side ahead of the April 7, 2021 Seoul mayoral by-election and having Kim, known as a long-time supporter, pay the 33 million won expense on his behalf. The special counsel viewed that former vice mayor Kang handled the practical work of the polling, including contacting Myung and exchanging questionnaires.
The special counsel said a total of 10 polls were conducted—three for publication and seven not for publication—and that the roughly 33 million won third-party payment structure was connected to Oh's side, indicting the three without detention in Dec. last year on charges of violating the Political Funds Act.
Meanwhile, regarding Myung Tae-gyun, former President Yoon Suk-yeol's wife, Kim Keon-hee, was acquitted in Jan. of charges of violating the Political Funds Act in connection with nomination interference. The court said, "It appears that Myung distributed the results of regular polls conducted as part of the business activities of the Mirae Korea Research Institute he operated to various people, including the defendant (Kim) and her spouse." The reason for the acquittal was that it was closer to indiscriminate distribution than lobbying a specific individual.