Political broker Myeong Tae-gyun appeared as a witness at the trial over allegations that the expense for Oh Se-hoon's opinion poll was covered by someone else, facing Mayor Oh in court for the first time.
The 22nd Criminal Division of the Seoul Central District Court (Presiding Judge Cho Hyeong-u, Director General) on the 20th held a continued hearing in the case charging Mayor Oh, former Seoul Vice Mayor for Political Affairs Kang Cheol-won, and sponsor Kim Han-jeong with violating the Political Funds Act and questioned Myeong as a witness. Mayor Oh also appeared in court that day. It was about four months since the two last faced each other during a confrontation interview in the special counsel's investigation in November last year. Myeong had been summoned as a witness on the 18th but did not appear.
In court, Myeong repeated his earlier claim that he first met Mayor Oh in December 2020 through former People Power Party lawmaker Kim Young-seon and that he was promised an apartment in return for conducting opinion polls. When the special counsel asked, "Did Mayor Oh say ahead of the April 7, 2021 Seoul mayoral by-election that 'a poll that beats Na Kyung-won is needed'?" Myeong answered, "Yes."
Myeong went on to claim that Mayor Oh said in a phone call that, after consulting with former Vice Mayor Kang, they would proceed with the opinion poll and that the expense would be borne by sponsor Kim. He also testified that his relationship with Mayor Oh continued until the end of February 2021 and that he provided help to Mayor Oh's side.
Before the hearing, Mayor Oh met reporters at the courthouse and called Myeong and Kang Hye-gyeong a "fraud crime ring." He added, "Myeong is a recruiter or foot soldier who scouts targets for fraud." Regarding the allegation that the expense for the opinion poll was covered by someone else, he said, "If that were true, it would mean I knowingly paid compensation 10 times and reviewed the results even though the poll was being manipulated," adding, "It's something no one but a fool would do." He continued, "Today is the day the truth will be sorted out in court."
Myeong also told reporters upon arriving at the court, "I helped because Mayor Oh said that if he were elected, he would work hard for the country," adding, "Why should I be condemned?"
Mayor Oh was indicted in December last year on charges that, ahead of the April 7, 2021 Seoul mayoral by-election, he received the results of 10 opinion polls from Myeong and had sponsor Kim shoulder the expense instead. The special counsel believes Myeong conducted 10 published and unpublished opinion polls related to the by-election from Jan. 22 to Feb. 28, 2021. It also says former Vice Mayor Kang, then the campaign chief of staff, communicated with Myeong at Mayor Oh's direction and discussed carrying out the polls, including exchanging questionnaires.
Mayor Oh's side, however, says they cut ties after contacting Myeong and concluding he was not trustworthy, fully denying the indictment as based on false testimony.