Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon faces an appellate sentencing hearing at 2 p.m. Friday that could end his third term at City Hall and reshape South Korea's next presidential contest. Oh was fined 10 million won in the first trial over allegations that a supporter paid polling costs tied to political broker Myung Tae-kyun ahead of the April 2021 mayoral by-election; under the Political Funds Act, a fine of 1 million won or more, if finalized, would strip him of office and block him from elected posts for five years.
What the indictment alleges
Prosecutors indicted Oh in December 2025 on charges of violating the Political Funds Act. They said Oh received opinion-survey results from Myung 10 times before the by-election, three of which were published and seven kept private, and that businessman Kim Han-jung covered 33 million won in costs through then-chief of staff Kang Cheol-won. Oh has denied commissioning the polls or asking Kim to pay.
The Seoul Central District Court convicted Oh on part of the indictment, finding he commissioned six surveys and that Kim paid 21 million won for five of them. The court imposed a 10 million won fine and ordered forfeiture of 21 million won, concluding Oh had motive to test his standing before the by-election even when public release of the numbers was restricted.
What changed in the appeal
Oh's defense team submitted more than an hour of recordings between Kim and Myung that were not part of the first-trial record. In excerpts reported by Korean media, Myung is heard saying Oh "does not know" about the arrangements and that the work was handled quietly. Oh's lawyers argue the tapes show Kim acted as an enthusiastic supporter without the mayor's knowledge; Myung told the court the conversation concerned opposition unity strategy, not poll billing.
Special Counsel Min Joong-ki's team sought an 18-month prison sentence at the appellate closing hearing and questioned why only three of 35 recorded files were disclosed. The Seoul High Court approved a live broadcast of the sentencing, a rarity for cases the bench deems to carry intense public interest.
Stakes beyond Seoul
Oh, a former lawyer and television host, returned to the mayor's office in 2021 and has been discussed as a conservative presidential contender. A finalized fine at or above the statutory threshold would vacate the mayor's chair and sideline him from the 2027 race unless the Supreme Court overturns the outcome. City council leaders have not announced interim succession plans pending the verdict.
The case sits alongside broader scrutiny of broker-driven polling after Myung's influence-peddling scandals roiled both major parties. Regardless of Friday's outcome, either side can appeal to the Supreme Court; legal commentators note accelerated timelines for cases brought by special prosecutors, meaning a final resolution could still slip into early 2027.
What to watch at 2 p.m.
Courtroom observers expect the panel led by Senior Judge Ku Hoe-keun to either uphold the fine, reduce it below the forfeiture threshold, or overturn all or part of the conviction. A reduced fine below 1 million won would let Oh remain mayor while appeals continue. City Hall said essential services would operate normally during the hearing, though security around the Seoul High Court in Seocho District was tightened overnight.