[Exclusive] Mok-dong Reconstruction Association Collects Petitions for Oh Se-hoon: “Social Disruption Must Be Prevented”

[Financial News] The Mok-dong Reconstruction Association, which is pursuing reconstruction projects, has been confirmed to be collecting petitions for Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon, who was convicted at trial and is appealing the verdict. The association argued that careful consideration is needed to ensure continuity in the policies Oh has pursued as mayor of Seoul. With Mok-dong’s reconstruction projects at risk of disruption if Oh loses his office, the association appears to have taken action on its own.
According to Financial News reporting on the 15th, the association has been accepting petitions online from residents of Mok-dong apartment complexes since the 11th. The association was formed by 14 Mok-dong complexes to pursue reconstruction. It plans to collect petitions through the end of this month and submit them to the Seoul High Court Criminal Division 7, presided over by Koo Hoe-geun. As of that day, more than 2,000 people had signed the petition.
According to the petition obtained by Financial News, the association appealed to the court to consider continuity in Oh’s municipal administration.
The association said, "We earnestly ask the court to also consider the public impact of this case," emphasizing, "Seoul is currently pursuing various initiatives, including expanding housing supply, building transportation infrastructure, strengthening the city’s competitiveness, and supporting vulnerable groups. This is a time when stability and continuity in municipal administration are more important than ever."
It added, "Oh led Seoul during his fourth and fifth terms and his seventh and eighth terms as mayor, pursuing various policies, including the Hangang River Renaissance Project, efforts to strengthen the city’s competitiveness, and his ‘accompanying the vulnerable’ initiative." It continued, "People may assess his policies differently, but it is difficult to deny that he has devoted himself to Seoul’s development as a public official for many years."
The petitioners stated, "If the defendant loses office without sufficient evidence establishing certainty, the resulting administrative vacuum and social disruption could have a significant impact not only on Seoul residents but also on the country as a whole." They added, "We ask the court to make a strict judgment in accordance with the law and principles, while also taking into account the public interest and the expectations of the people."
The association said, "Throughout this case, Mayor Oh has consistently maintained that he never commissioned an opinion poll from Myeong Tae-gyun and that he neither ordered nor knew about the payment of the polling costs by another party." It added, "We ask the appellate court to carefully examine once again whether the lower court’s ruling relied substantially on statements from related parties rather than direct and objective evidence."
It further stated, "We ask the appellate court to carefully examine once again whether the lower court’s ruling relied substantially on statements from related parties rather than direct and objective evidence." The association criticized the ruling, saying, "Recognizing guilt based solely on statements from individuals whose interests are intertwined or whose consistency has been questioned is a matter requiring careful consideration."
The association said, "The petitioner has deep faith in the fairness and independence of the judiciary of the Republic of Korea." It earnestly appealed, "Please review the case from the beginning based on objective evidence and legal principles, rather than preconceptions or political interpretations, and deliver a just ruling consistent with the substantive truth."
Finally, it concluded, "Regardless of the conclusion reached by the court, we respectfully ask that you give full consideration to the efforts and achievements the defendant has made for the development of the country and Seoul."
An association official explained, "If the mayor loses office, the vacancy period before a by-election would significantly affect urban redevelopment and maintenance projects, including deliberations by Seoul." The official added, "We launched the petition campaign so that the projects can proceed without interruption. We expect many more people to sign in the future."
[email protected] Jung Kyung-soo Reporter