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Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon Indicted Over Alleged Illegal Polling Payments

Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon has been indicted for allegedly arranging payment of 33 million won across five occasions to fund opinion polls before the 2021 by-election, a move prosecutors say violated the Political Funds Act. Oh denies the charges, calling the case politically motivated and saying it lacks direct evidence. The indictment was brought by a legal team probing links to the jailed former first lady Kim Keon Hee. A conviction carrying a fine of one million won or more would bar Oh from running in next year’s local election.

06:01 PM, 12/01/2025Politics
Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon Indicted Over Alleged Illegal Polling Payments

Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon was indicted on Monday by prosecutors who say he violated South Korea's political funding laws by arranging for a supporter to pay for opinion polls ahead of the 2021 by-election.

Allegations

Prosecutors allege a businessman made payments totaling 33 million won (about $22,400) on five separate occasions to finance opinion polling used during the 2021 by-election. The payments are said to have breached the Political Funds Act. The indictment was brought by a legal team investigating suspected corruption linked to the jailed former first lady Kim Keon Hee.

Mayor's Response

Oh, 64, a member of the conservative People Power Party and serving his fourth term as Seoul mayor, has denied any wrongdoing and called the indictment politically motivated.

"This is a far-fetched case without a shred of direct evidence and will only end in acquittal," Oh said in a statement.

"I will stand firm alongside the people of Seoul," he added.

Political and Legal Stakes

Oh first became mayor in 2006 and returned to office in 2021 following the death of his predecessor, Park Won-soon. He has led recent opinion polls ahead of next year’s local elections, a contest viewed as a potential springboard for a presidential bid if he wins another term.

Under South Korean election law, a conviction that includes a fine of one million won or more would disqualify him from running in next year’s election. The indictment now moves the case toward court proceedings, where prosecutors must present evidence and the defense will respond.

Next Steps

The case will proceed through the judicial process; timelines for trial and possible appeals will determine the immediate political impact. Observers say the outcome could affect both local electoral dynamics and Oh’s broader political ambitions.

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