Court to broadcast Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon's appeal verdict live on the 23rd

Seoul High Court Criminal Division 7, presided over by Gu Hoe-geun (구회근), said on the 20th that it will broadcast live the appeal verdict of Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon in a Political Funds Act case. The verdict is scheduled for 2 pm on the 23rd. [ 1 , 4 , 7 , 9 , 10 , 12 , 14 ]

Korea Economic Daily and Maeil Business reported that the court will film with its own equipment and transmit the footage live to broadcasters. They said courts have so far permitted live broadcast of verdicts in cases closely tied to the public interest or of high social attention, and that Oh's first-trial verdict was not broadcast. Newsis and Dong-A Ilbo said the special counsel's team applied for the broadcast on the 19th, and that under the special counsel law the court must permit it when the special counsel or the defendant applies, unless there are special circumstances. [ 7 , 9 , 10 , 14 ]

Oh was indicted last December on charges that, ahead of the April 7, 2021 Seoul by-election, he had political broker Myung Tae-kyun (명태균) conduct 10 polls and had businessman Kim Han-jeong (김한정) pay 33 million won of the cost. Special counsel Min Joong-ki (민중기) also indicted Kim and Kang Cheol-won (강철원), a former Seoul deputy mayor who had been chief of staff of Oh's campaign. [ 1 , 9 ]

In July the Seoul Central District Court found Oh guilty and fined him 10 million won, ordering forfeiture of 21 million won. It found that 5 of the 10 polls were carried out at Oh's request and that the costs were paid for him, and said a sentence costing him his post was unavoidable. Newsis said the court found that requests or payment were not proven for the remaining polls. Under the law, a fine of 1 million won or more for a Political Funds Act violation, once final, means Oh loses his post. Korea Economic Daily and Maeil Business added that he would also be unable to run in the next presidential election. [ 1 , 7 , 9 , 10 ]

At the appeal closing hearing on the 2nd, the special counsel's team sought 1 year 6 months in prison and 33 million won in forfeiture. In his final statement Oh denied the charges, saying that asking a supporter to pay such costs was unimaginable and did not fit his political beliefs. [ 4 , 7 , 10 , 14 ]

A recording of a call between Kim and Myung was submitted as new evidence on appeal. Chosun Ilbo reported that Kim is said to say in it that he did the work on his own, and that Oh's side argues on this basis that Kim commissioned the polls without Oh's knowledge. Newsis quoted Myung in the recording as saying "Oh Se-hoon doesn't know" and also, "Mr. Mayor, this was done secretly." Chosun Ilbo added that the same court division acquitted former President Yoon Suk Yeol on the 7th in a separate case over free polls from Myung, saying polls are hard to regard as a property benefit. [ 1 , 9 ]