First Appeal Trial Begins for Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon Over 'Myung Tae-gyun Allegations'

[Anchor]

The first appeal trial for Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon, who was sentenced in the first trial to a penalty that would strip him of his office over allegations that political broker Myung Tae-gyun paid for his opinion polls, is being held today (August 21).

Reporter Jung Hye-jin has the details.

[Reporter]

Division 7 of the Seoul High Court will hold the first appeal trial at 2 p.m. today for Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon, who is charged with violating the Political Funds Act in connection with the alleged covering of opinion poll costs by Myung Tae-gyun.

Mayor Oh was indicted without detention in December of last year on charges of receiving opinion poll results from Myung 10 times ahead of the 2021 Seoul mayoral by-election and having his supporter, businessman Kim Han-jung, pay 33 million won for the costs on his behalf.

In last month's first trial, Mayor Oh was sentenced to a fine of 10 million won, which would result in the loss of his mayoral position, along with an additional collection of 21 million won.

The first-instance court ruled that Mayor Oh directly commissioned 5 out of the 10 opinion polls from Myung and had businessman Kim pay 21 million won in related costs on his behalf.

Ahead of the second trial, Mayor Oh's side has reportedly significantly reinforced its legal team and substantially revised its trial strategy.

Mayor Oh's legal team plans to focus on proving that there was no such thing as the "covering of opinion poll costs," which constitutes the core essence of this case, during the second-trial proceedings.

Mayor Oh's defense team emphasized in their statement of reasons for appeal that tangible evidence showing Mayor Oh directly commissioned the opinion polls was insufficient, yet the first-instance court handed down a guilty verdict.

In response, the special counsel team has countered with its own statement of reasons for appeal, arguing that Mayor Oh violated the very "Oh Se-hoon Act" that he had previously spearheaded to enhance transparency in election culture.

Meanwhile, ahead of Mayor Oh's first trial today, the appellate court also held the first appeal trial for former President Yoon Suk Yeol in the morning regarding the "Myung Tae-gyun opinion polls."

(Video Editing: Seeun Shin)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.