The first-trial verdict in Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon's "Myung Tae-gyun poll fee payment on behalf" allegations will be recorded and aired.
The Criminal Agreement Division 22 of the Seoul Central District Court (Presiding Judge Cho Hyeong-woo, Director General judge) said on the 21st that it approved the special counsel Kim Keon-hee team's request to relay the verdict hearing for the case of alleged violations of the Political Funds Act by Mayor Oh and others, which will be held at 2 p.m. on the 22nd.
The court will film the verdict hearing with its own equipment and release the video after the proceedings end. It will not be broadcast live.
Oh was indicted without detention on Dec. 1 last year on charges that, ahead of the April 7, 2021 Seoul mayoral by-election, he received poll results a total of 10 times from Myung Tae-gyun and had longtime supporter and businessman Kim Han-jung pay the 33 million won survey expense on his behalf.
Kang Cheol-won, former Seoul deputy mayor for political affairs who was then chief of staff for Oh's campaign, was also indicted on charges of taking part in the polling by contacting Myung and exchanging questionnaires on Oh's instructions. Kim is accused of paying political funds that Oh should have borne.
At the sentencing hearing on the 17th of last month, the special counsel Kim Keon-hee team sought one year and six months in prison and the forfeiture of 33 million won for Oh. It asked the court to sentence former Deputy Mayor Kang and Kim each to one year in prison.
Oh's side fully denies the charges, saying there was no request to Myung for a poll and no instruction for Kim to pay the expense on his behalf. Oh's attorney argued at the sentencing hearing that the special counsel's indictment was a "patchwork indictment."
If Oh receives a finalized sentence of a fine of at least 1 million won in this case, he will leave the mayor's post under the Political Funds Act. The Political Funds Act stipulates that a public official who has already taken office must leave the post if a fine of at least 1 million won is finalized for the crime of unlawful receipt of political funds.