The trial of Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon over allegations that a supporter covered his by-election opinion poll costs will conclude after the June 3 local elections. As a result, proceedings against the mayor will be suspended until the local elections are over.
The 22nd Criminal Division of the Seoul Central District Court, presided over by Judge Cho Hyung-woo, held the seventh hearing Tuesday for Oh, former Seoul Vice Mayor for Political Affairs Kang Chul-won, and a businessman surnamed Kim, a campaign donor, who have been indicted on charges of violating the Political Funds Act.
The court outlined its future hearing schedule, under which closing arguments will take place after the June 3 local elections. "We plan to conduct defendant questioning of Mayor Oh on the morning of June 17, and conclude arguments after hearing final statements in the afternoon," the court said. Defendant questioning of former Vice Mayor Kang and Kim will be held on June 10 and 12, respectively. Given that a ruling typically follows closing arguments by about a month, a first-ruling verdict is expected as early as mid-July.
Oh's legal team had previously asked the court either to postpone the trial until after the local elections or to issue a ruling before the vote. The court effectively rejected the request for a pre-election ruling, saying it "could give the impression of intervening in the elections through a judicial decision."
Oh was indicted on charges of commissioning an opinion poll from a person surnamed Myung ahead of the Seoul mayoral by-election on April 7, 2021, and instructing Kang, then his chief of staff, to coordinate the poll with Myung. The special counsel believes Oh asked Kim, his supporter, to cover the polling costs. Oh's side has flatly denied the charges.
