(LEAD) Main opposition hails Seoul mayor's acquittal in political funds trial; ruling party calls for appeal

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(ATTN: CHANGES slug from PPP-Seoul mayor sent earlier; RECASTS headline, lead; UPDATES with more info in paras 2-3, 8-13)

SEOUL, Oct. 23 (Yonhap) -- The main opposition People Power Party (PPP) on Friday welcomed an appeals court's decision to acquit Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon in a high-stakes political funds trial, while the ruling party called for an immediate appeal.

Oh, who is affiliated with the PPP, had been at risk of losing his mayoral post after a lower court fined him 10 million won (US$7,500) for violating the Political Funds Act in connection with the 2021 mayoral by-election.

The Seoul High Court overturned the lower court's conviction, finding Oh not guilty of the charges.

"It is a great relief and at the same time only the right thing that the city administration, entrusted to Mayor Oh Se-hoon by ten million residents of Seoul, can continue without disruption," PPP chief spokesperson Park Choong-kwon said in a commentary.

"The ruling shows that the truth always prevails in the end, even if it takes time," he said.

Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon (C) is surrounded by reporters as he arrives at the Seoul High Court in southern Seoul on Oct. 23, 2026, to attend his trial on charges of violating the Political Funds Act. (Pool photo) (Yonhap)

Oh had been indicted on charges of having a political supporter make payments totaling 33 million won for opinion polls he allegedly received on 10 occasions from self-proclaimed power broker Myung Tae-kyun ahead of the 2021 election.

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

The ruling Democratic Party (DP) criticized Oh's acquittal as an unreasonable ruling that runs counter to public expectations.

"The (court) dismissed all allegations that the payments were made on his behalf, saying Myung's testimony was not credible," DP senior spokesperson Park Sung-joon said. "The appeals court effectively treated as legitimate money that the lower court had acknowledged as illegal political funds."

Park also slammed the appellate court as a "vending machine" that hands down acquittals, noting that it had acquitted former President Yoon Suk Yeol in a separate case earlier this month.

DP floor leader Han Byung-do echoed the sentiment in a Facebook post, saying the court's ruling defied common sense and failed to meet public expectations.

"We express regret over the appellate court's ruling, which overturned the lower court's conviction," he said.

Han urged a special counsel team investigating Oh's case to immediately appeal the ruling to the Supreme Court.

julesyi@yna.co.kr (END)

Main opposition welcomes Seoul mayor's acquittal in political funds trial

(3rd LD) Appeals court acquits Seoul mayor of political funds law violation

(LEAD) Appeals court acquits Seoul mayor in political funds trial

(LEAD) Main opposition hails Seoul mayor's acquittal in political funds trial; ruling party calls for appeal

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（注意：更改了此前由人民进步党首尔市长提供的标题；重写了标题和导语；在第2-3段和第8-13段更新了更多信息）

首尔，10月23日（韩联社）——主要反对党国民力量党（PPP）周五对上诉法院在备受瞩目的政治资金案审判中宣告首尔市长吴世勋无罪的裁决表示欢迎，而执政党则呼吁立即提起上诉。

与人民进步党有关联的吴某，曾因在2021年市长补选中违反政治资金法而被下级法院罚款1000万韩元（约合7500美元），面临失去市长职位的风险。

首尔高等法院推翻了下级法院的判决，认定吴某无罪。

“首尔市政府受一千万居民的委托，由吴世勋市长管理，如今能够继续不受干扰地运作，这既令人欣慰，也是唯一正确的做法。”人民进步党首席发言人朴忠权在评论中表示。

他说：“这项裁决表明，真相最终总会大白于天下，即使这需要时间。”

2026年10月23日，首尔市长吴世勋（中）抵达首尔高等法院，出席其涉嫌违反《政治资金法》的庭审。现场记者簇拥着他。（联营照片）（韩联社）

吴某被指控在 2021 年大选前，让一名政治支持者支付总计 3300 万韩元，用于购买他据称从自称权力掮客的明泰均处获得的 10 次民意调查结果。

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 万韩元的罚款或更重的处罚，将被剥夺议员资格。

执政的民主党批评吴某的无罪判决是不合理的，与公众的期望背道而驰。

共同民主党高级发言人朴成俊表示：“法院驳回了所有关于款项系代其支付的指控，称明的证词不可信。上诉法院实际上将下级法院认定为非法政治资金的款项视为合法资金。”

朴槿惠还抨击上诉法院是“自动售货机”，只会随意宣布无罪释放，并指出该法院在本月初的另一起案件中宣判前总统尹锡烈无罪。

民主党党团领袖韩炳道在脸书上发帖表达了类似的观点，称法院的裁决违背常理，未能满足公众的期望。

他说：“我们对上诉法院推翻下级法院定罪的裁决表示遗憾。”

韩敦促负责调查吴某案件的特别检察官小组立即向最高法院提起上诉。

julesyi@yna.co.kr (完)

主要反对党对首尔市长在政治资金案中被判无罪表示欢迎

（第三条）上诉法院宣告首尔市长政治资金法违规指控不成立

（导语）上诉法院宣判首尔市长政治资金案无罪

（导语）主要反对党对首尔市长政治资金案无罪判决表示欢迎；执政党呼吁提起上诉。