O세훈's 1st Trial Ruling: "Righteousness Prevails" vs. "Undue Strictness on the Opposition"

[Anchor]

When Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon was sentenced to a fine that would invalidate his election in the first trial, the Democratic Party of Korea stated that it was the "natural course of justice" for a clear crime. On the other hand, the People Power Party protested, calling it a "political ruling" and accusing the court of applying strict standards exclusively to the opposition party.

Reporter Son Hyeong-an has the details.

[Reporter]

Upon news that Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon, affiliated with the People Power Party, was sentenced to a fine of 10 million won—a penalty that would strip him of his elected office—in his first trial for violating the Political Funds Act, the Democratic Party commented that it was a "righteous outcome" for an obvious crime.

The Democratic Party stated that it has been proven Mayor Oh utilized opinion polls commissioned through a political broker for his election and had a supporter pay the costs on his behalf. They raised their voices, demanding that Mayor Oh take legal and political responsibility for undermining the electoral system, which is the foundation of democracy.

The Democratic Party faction in the Seoul Metropolitan Council demanded Mayor Oh's voluntary resignation, stating, "Administrative confusion in the capital city of Seoul is now inevitable due to the judicial risk of Mayor Oh, who has been in office for less than a month." The Rebuilding Korea Party also sharpened its tone, asserting, "Resignation is the final duty he can fulfill for the public and the citizens of Seoul."

In contrast, the People Power Party protested, calling it a "political ruling" that destroyed judicial justice.

The People Power Party commented, "The perception that the ruling party is acquitted while the opposition party is found guilty is spreading among the public," adding, "This ruling invites political controversy and shakes the foundations of democracy."

Floor Leader Jung Jeom-sik stated through an official release that while he respects the court's judgment, he questioned, "Whether a guilty verdict can be reached solely based on the judge's preconceptions, relying on the inconsistent statements of Myung Tae-kyun," and added, "We expect close verification and judgment to take place in the appellate trial."

Independent lawmaker Han Dong-hoon posted on social media, "The credibility of the testimonies from related parties is low, and there are many leaps in logic, making it a difficult ruling to accept."

(Video reporting: Lee Seung-hwan, Shin Dong-hwan | Video editing: Jang Hyun-ki | Design: Kang Yoon-jung)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.