Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon has been fined 1 million won after being convicted in a first trial for violating political funding laws, sparking a heated debate online regarding the implications of the ruling and its potential impact on his future in office.
On July 22, various online communities quickly shared the verdict of Oh's case, which involved allegations of receiving polling results from political broker Myung-taek-kyun during the 2021 Seoul mayoral by-election, with his supporter Kim Han-jeong covering the 33 million won cost.
Many reactions focused on criticizing the judiciary's political judgments. One user remarked, "Today's ruling shows that the judiciary could have corrected this country. If they wanted to, they could easily convict someone without evidence, so why didn't they apply that standard to Lee Jae-myung and instead let him off the hook?"
The user continued, "There were many opportunities to correct the country. The judges who acquitted Kwon Soon-il, who was involved in the Hwacheon Daeyu case, and released Lee Jae-myung, who was sentenced to jail, are all accomplices."
Conversely, some users cautioned against hastily concluding that Oh would lose his mayoral position based solely on this ruling. Comments included, "It's only the first trial; he won't lose his position unless the Supreme Court confirms it," and "Political cases often get overturned in higher courts. Didn't Lee Jae-myung's election law case get reversed in the third trial?"
Another user noted, "While it may seem reasonable based on circumstantial evidence, the lack of proof was also a point of contention in the trials involving Kim Geon-hee, Yoon Suk-yeol, and Myung-taek-kyun. The judges' decisions vary, so there's no need to argue over who is right."
However, some observers believe that the fine itself suggests a high likelihood of losing the right to run for office. Comments included, "If this charge results in a guilty verdict, it effectively means a loss of eligibility. A fine of 900,000 won was never an option," and "With a 1 million won fine, the chances of losing the mayoral position remain significant, even if it goes to the third trial."
Earlier, the Seoul Central District Court's Criminal Division 22, led by Judge Jo Hyung-woo, sentenced Oh to a 1 million won fine for violating the Political Fund Act. The ruling is a first trial, and the final decision on Oh's mayoral status will depend on the outcome of the appeal and the Supreme Court's judgment.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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