A court has approved a recorded broadcast of the first-trial verdict in the case involving Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon's alleged proxy payment of polling costs.
The 22nd Criminal Division of the Seoul Central District Court (presiding judge Cho Hyung-woo), which is hearing the first trial of Oh's alleged violation of the Political Funds Act, on the 21st approved the recorded broadcast of the trial requested by the special counsel investigating Kim Keon-hee (Special Counsel Min Joong-ki).
The special counsel filed the broadcast request with the court on the 16th. While the recorded broadcast of first trials is a principle under the special counsel law for insurrection cases, broadcasting is not mandatory for cases related to the Kim Keon-hee special counsel.
Oh was indicted on charges of commissioning a poll from political broker Myung Tae-kyun ahead of the April 7, 2021 Seoul mayoral by-election, and then instructing Kang Chul-won, then his chief of staff and former Seoul political vice mayor, to conduct the poll in consultation with Myung. The special counsel believes Oh asked a supporter, a businessman surnamed Kim, to cover the polling costs on his behalf.
At the final hearing last month, the special counsel asked the court to sentence Oh to one year and six months in prison and impose a forfeiture of 33 million won. Oh's side, on the other hand, maintains that he did not commission a poll from Myung, and that he neither instructed the poll nor requested proxy payment of its costs.
