18-month prison term sought for Seoul mayor in appellate political funds trial

A special counsel team on Friday sought an 18-month prison term for Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon at the Seoul High Court in a political funds case tied to opinion polls ahead of the 2021 mayoral by-election. The team said he violated the Political Funds Act and could lose his post if the sentence becomes final. Oh was indicted over allegations that a supporter paid 33 million won for polls he received from Myung Tae-kyun.

Under the Political Funds Act, elected officials lose their seats if they receive a finalized fine of 1 million won or more for accepting illegal political funds.

Oh was indicted on charges that a supporter paid 33 million won for opinion poll results he received 10 times from Myung Tae-kyun before the April 2021 mayoral by-election.

The lower court partially recognized the charges and ruled that Oh had asked Myung for opinion polls on five occasions, with his supporter paying a total of 21 million won.

Oh is serving a fifth term as Seoul mayor after winning the June 3 local elections.

Published Oct 2, 2026 3:29 pm KST

Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon appears for the final hearing of his appellate trial on violating the Political Funds Act at the Seoul High Court in southern Seoul, Friday. Yonhap

A special counsel team on Friday sought an 18-month prison term for Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon in a political funds case over opinion polls conducted in the lead-up to the 2021 mayoral by-election.

Special counsel Min Joong-ki's team made the request at the Seoul High Court after a lower court fined Oh 10 million won ($7,400) for violating the Political Funds Act, putting him at risk of losing his mayoral post.

Under the law, elected officials are stripped of their seats if they receive a finalized fine of 1 million won or heavier punishment for accepting illegal political funds.

Oh was indicted on charges of having a supporter pay 33 million won for opinion poll results he received on 10 occasions from self-proclaimed power broker Myung Tae-kyun ahead of the by-election in April 2021.

The lower court partially recognized the charges, ruling that Oh had asked Myung for opinion polls on five occasions and his supporter paid a total of 21 million won.

"Defendant Oh Se-hoon is a prominent politician who, more than anyone else, is in a position to follow the Political Funds Act," Min's team said, accusing him of forcing a third party to pay for the opinion polls.

Oh is currently serving a fifth term as Seoul mayor after his victory in the June 3 local elections.

周五，特别检察官小组向首尔高等法院提出申请，要求判处首尔市长吴世勋18个月监禁。该案涉及与2021年市长补选前民调相关的政治资金案。特别检察官小组表示，吴世勋违反了《政治资金法》，如果判决生效，他可能失去市长职位。吴世勋被指控其支持者向其支付了3300万韩元，以获取来自明泰均的民调结果。

根据《政治资金法》，当选官员如果因接受非法政治资金而被处以 100 万韩元或以上的罚款，将被取消议员资格。

吴某被指控在 2021 年 4 月市长补选前，其支持者向明泰均支付了 3300 万韩元，购买了 10 次民意调查结果。

下级法院部分认可了这些指控，并裁定吴某曾五次要求明某进行民意调查，其支持者为此支付了总计 2100 万韩元。

吴钊燮在6月3日的地方选举中获胜，这是他第五次担任首尔市长。

发布于2026年10月2日下午3:29（韩国标准时间）

首尔市长吴世勋周五在首尔高等法院出席其违反《政治资金法》上诉案的最终庭审。（韩联社）

周五，特别检察官小组寻求对首尔市长吴世勋判处 18 个月监禁，罪名是其在 2021 年市长补选前进行的民意调查中挪用政治资金。

特别检察官闵仲基的团队向首尔高等法院提出请求，此前下级法院因吴某违反政治资金法对其处以 1000 万韩元（约合 7400 美元）的罚款，使他面临失去市长职位的风险。

根据法律规定，当选官员如果因接受非法政治资金而被处以 100 万韩元罚款或更重的处罚，将被剥夺职务。

吴某被指控在2021年4月的补选前，让一名支持者支付3300万韩元，以换取他从自称权力掮客的明泰均那里获得的10次民意调查结果。

下级法院部分认可了这些指控，裁定吴某曾五次要求明某进行民意调查，其支持者共支付了 2100 万韩元。

“被告吴世勋是一位知名的政治人物，他比任何人都更有能力遵守《政治资金法》。”闵律师的团队表示，并指控吴世勋强迫第三方支付民意调查费用。

吴钊燮在6月3日的地方选举中获胜，目前正在担任他的第五个首尔市长任期。