Political Circles Shaken as Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon Receives Fine That Could Cost Him Job in 1st Trial

[Anchor]

The fallout from Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon being sentenced to a fine in his first trial—a penalty that would strip him of his mayoral position—is spreading across political circles. If the legal process proceeds as scheduled, all trials are expected to conclude before January next year, raising the possibility of a by-election for Seoul mayor next year.

Reporter Park Chan-beom has the details.

[Reporter]

Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon, who was put on trial on charges of having a supporter pay for opinion poll costs, immediately appealed after being sentenced in the first trial on the day before yesterday (July 22) to a 10 million won fine, a penalty that would cost him his mayoral seat.

Mayor Oh's side told SBS, "There is no physical evidence, and he was unfairly targeted by a fraudster five years ago," adding, "We will focus entirely on preparing for the appellate trial."

As Mayor Oh, a member of the People Power Party, has also been considered a leading next-generation presidential contender, the interior of the People Power Party is in a stir while monitoring the political ramifications.

This is because if the Supreme Court finalizes a fine of 1 million won or more—the threshold for losing public office—Mayor Oh would also be stripped of his eligibility to run for office for the next five years, blocking his path to run in the 2030 presidential election.

Within the People Power Party, regardless of factional lines, reactions are limited to statements such as, "The truth must be revealed in the appellate trial."

[Choi Bo-yoon / Chief Spokesperson, People Power Party: The appellate court must rectify the problems of this ruling through judgments based solely on law and evidence...]

However, there is also a discernible atmosphere of assessing the possibility that a Seoul mayoral by-election could be held in April or October of next year, and speculating on the impact it would have on the internal power dynamics of the conservative opposition bloc.

An aide to leader Jang Dong-hyeok, who has been at odds with Mayor Oh, told SBS, "If a Seoul mayoral by-election takes place next year, it is a major election in the capital region held one year before the 2028 general election, so we have no choice but to keep a close eye on it."

Pro-Han Dong-hoon faction lawmakers of the People Power Party close to independent lawmaker Han Dong-hoon—another potential presidential contender in the conservative opposition bloc—as well as the New Reform Party led by leader Lee Jun-seok, who had considered a pan-conservative alliance with Mayor Oh, are refraining from making comments for now.

Within the Democratic Party as well, some observations suggest that the very possibility of a major by-election being held next year—the third year of the Lee Jae-myung administration—could be a critical turning point.

This is because it could take on the character of an interim evaluation ahead of the general election for President Lee Jae-myung or the new leader of the Democratic Party to be elected at the August 17 national convention.

(Photo: Yonhap News)
(Reported by Lee Seung-hwan and Shin Dong-hwan | Video edited by Jang Hyun-ki | Design by Jang Chae-woo)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.