[BREAKING] Appeals court acquits Seoul Mayor Oh in political funds case

The Seoul High Court on Friday acquitted Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon in Seoul of political funding charges tied to opinion polls before the 2021 mayoral by-election. The panel, led by Judge Ku Hoi-geun, overturned a July conviction that had imposed a 10 million won fine and ordered 21 million won forfeited. The case concerned whether Oh requested polls from political broker Myung Tae-kyun and knew supporter Kim Han-jung was paying for them.

Prosecutors brought charges involving 10 polls and payments totaling 33 million won.

The lower court found that Oh commissioned five polls and that Kim’s payment of 21 million won for them constituted illegal political funding.

Judge Ku said Myung’s testimony, described as virtually the only evidence, was difficult to believe on the whole.

At the Oct. 2 appeals hearing, special counsel Min Joong-ki’s team sought an 18-month prison sentence and forfeiture of 33 million won.

Under the Political Funds Act, elected officials lose their seats if they receive a finalized fine of at least 1 million won for improper acceptance of political funds.

Published Oct 23, 2026 2:22 pm KST

Updated Oct 23, 2026 2:27 pm KST

Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon smiles as he enters the Seoul High Court for his trial, in Seoul, Friday. Joint Press Corps

An appeals court on Friday acquitted Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon of political funding charges linked to opinion polls conducted ahead of his 2021 election, overturning a conviction that threatened his political future.

The verdict given by a panel of judges at the Seoul High Court, led by Ku Hoi-geun, reversed a July sentence imposing a fine of 10 million won ($7,500) and ordering the forfeiture of 21 million won.

The case centered on allegations that Oh commissioned polls from political broker Myung Tae-kyun ahead of the 2021 Seoul mayoral by-election and had his supporter, Kim Han-jung, cover the costs. Prosecutors brought charges involving 10 polls and payments totaling 33 million won.

"Myung Tae-kyun’s testimony, which constitutes virtually the only evidence, is difficult to believe on the whole," Judge Ku said.

Under the Political Funds Act, elected officials are stripped of their seats if they receive a finalized fine of 1 million won ($750) or a heavier penalty for improper acceptance of political funds.

The central dispute was whether Oh had requested the polls and knew that Kim was paying for them. Oh’s side challenged the credibility of Myung’s account.

The lower court found that Oh had commissioned five of those polls and that Kim’s payment of 21 million won for them constituted illegal political funding.

At the final appeals hearing on Oct. 2, the special prosecutor team, led by independent counsel Min Joong-ki, sought an 18-month prison sentence and the forfeiture of 33 million won, repeating its request from the first trial.

首尔高等法院周五宣布首尔市长吴世勋无罪，此前他被控在2021年市长补选前进行民意调查，涉嫌政治资金运作。由法官具会根领导的合议庭推翻了7月份的判决，该判决曾判处吴世勋1000万韩元罚款并没收2100万韩元。此案涉及吴世勋是否曾委托政治掮客明泰均进行民意调查，以及他是否知晓其支持者金汉中出资进行调查。

检察官对涉及 10 项选举舞弊和总计 3300 万韩元的款项提起诉讼。

下级法院认定吴某委托进行了五次民意调查，金某为此支付的 2100 万韩元构成非法政治资金。

法官久表示，明某的证词（被描述为几乎是唯一的证据）总体上难以令人信服。

在 10 月 2 日的上诉听证会上，特别检察官闵仲基的团队寻求判处 18 个月监禁并没收 3300 万韩元。

根据《政治资金法》，当选官员如果因不当接受政治资金而被处以至少 100 万韩元的罚款，将会失去席位。

发布于2026年10月23日下午2:22（韩国标准时间）

更新于2026年10月23日下午2:27（韩国标准时间）

周五，首尔市长吴世勋面带微笑地走进首尔高等法院，参加他的庭审。（联合新闻社）

周五，上诉法院推翻了此前威胁首尔市长吴世勋政治资金罪名的判决，该罪名与他在 2021 年选举前进行的民意调查有关。

由具会根法官领导的首尔高等法院法官小组做出的判决推翻了7月份的判决，该判决对被告处以1000万韩元（7500美元）的罚款，并没收2100万韩元。

此案的核心指控是，吴某在2021年首尔市长补选前委托政治掮客明泰均进行民调，并由其支持者金汉贞支付费用。检方对吴某提起诉讼，涉及10项民调和总计3300万韩元的款项。

“明泰均的证词几乎是唯一的证据，但总体而言，他的证词难以令人信服，”法官具说。

根据《政治资金法》，当选官员如果因不当接受政治资金而被处以 100 万韩元（750 美元）的罚款或更重的处罚，将被剥夺议员资格。

争议的焦点在于吴某是否要求进行民调，以及他是否知晓金某出资进行民调。吴某一方质疑明某的说法可信度。

下级法院认定吴某委托进行了其中五次民意调查，金某为此支付的 2100 万韩元构成非法政治资金。

在 10 月 2 日的最终上诉听证会上，由独立检察官闵仲基领导的特别检察官小组要求判处 18 个月监禁并没收 3300 万韩元，重申了他们在第一次审判中的要求。