[Anchor]

Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon has been sentenced to a fine of 10 million won in the first trial. If a fine of 1 million won or more is finalized, he will lose his position as Mayor of Seoul. Provided that the legal process concludes within the statutory deadlines, a final ruling is expected to be reached before January of next year.

Our first report today (July 23) comes from reporter Shin Yong-il.

[Reporter]

[Verdict: Defendant Oh Se-hoon is sentenced to a fine of 10 million won.]

Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon, who stood trial on charges of violating the Political Funds Act, has been found guilty.

The court sentenced Mayor Oh to a fine of 10 million won and an additional collection of 21 million won.

Under the Public Official Election Act, if a sentence of 1 million won or more is finalized, Mayor Oh will lose his mayoral post.

Previously, the Special Prosecutor team looking into Kim Keon-hee demanded a one-year-and-six-month prison sentence for Mayor Oh. The prosecution stated that ahead of the April 7 Seoul mayoral by-election in 2021, Mayor Oh commissioned Myung Tae-kyun to conduct 10 public opinion polls and had Kim Han-jung, a business supporter, cover the 33 million won cost.

Consequently, the first-instance court concluded that five of those polls were commissioned by Mayor Oh and that the 21 million won survey cost was paid on his behalf by Kim, constituting an illegal political fund donation.

The alignment of the timelines between the polls and the deposits served as key evidence.

The court also pointed out that Mayor Oh has consistently evaded responsibility.

[Cho Hyung-woo / Presiding Judge, Criminal Settlement Division 22, Seoul Central District Court: Despite having served as a member of the National Assembly and Mayor of Seoul, and being well aware of the legislative intent and content of the Political Funds Act, he has maintained an attitude of failing to properly acknowledge his responsibility.]

With a grim expression immediately following the sentencing, Mayor Oh stared toward the bench for a while and announced that he could not accept the ruling and would appeal.

[Oh Se-hoon / Mayor of Seoul: Relying solely on the statements of that notorious liar Myung Tae-kyun and circumstantial evidence, with absolutely no direct evidence, based on mere inference.]

Meanwhile, the Special Prosecutor team stated that it was a highly meaningful ruling and that they would decide on whether to appeal after analyzing the written judgment.

(Video Reporter: Yang Hyun-chul, Video Editor: Wee Won-yang, Design: Lee Ga-jin)