Seo Young-kyo, Legislation and Judiciary Committee chair, denounces panel: “I cannot accept Oh Se-hoon’s acquittal”

[Financial News] Seo Young-kyo, chair of the National Assembly Legislation and Judiciary Committee, strongly protested the appellate court’s acquittal of Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon in the case over allegations that he covered Myeong Tae-gyun’s opinion-polling costs, saying, “I cannot accept the ruling by the panel presided over by Koo Hoe-geun.”
On the 23rd, Seo said on social media (SNS), “I cannot accept the ruling by the panel presided over by Koo Hoe-geun, which gave a free pass to insurrectionist Yoon Suk Yeol and Mayor Oh Se-hoon, who received illicit political benefits.”
Seo criticized the ruling, saying, “The first-trial court sentenced Mayor Oh to a fine of 10 million won, but the second-trial panel presided over by Koo Hoe-geun acquitted him. In the earlier case involving Yoon Suk Yeol and the Political Funds Act, they excluded a voice recording from the evidence, and this time they also rejected clear evidence of a deposit made by businessman Kim Han-jung, a supporter of Mayor Oh.”
Seo cited the fact that in February 2021, Kim, a supporter of Mayor Oh, deposited 10 million won into Kang Hye-kyung’s account, and argued, “There would have been no reason at all to deposit 10 million won with someone they did not even know if Mayor Oh had not asked them to.”
She also pointed to conflicting accounts of how many times Mayor Oh and Myeong Tae-gyun met, as well as Kang’s statements, and noted, “The evidence that has come to light does not disappear just because people cannot accurately remember what happened more than four years ago.”
Seo argued, “The fact that the opinion-polling costs were paid on someone’s behalf does not disappear just because some statements are inaccurate,” adding, “The appellate ruling that acquitted him despite overwhelming evidence is unjust.”
She said, “I deeply regret this ruling, which is far removed from the public’s sense of justice,” adding, “I believe the special counsel will respond thoroughly to the appellate ruling and do its utmost to ensure that Mayor Oh is held legally accountable in a manner appropriate to the case.”
She also called for “the Supreme Court to make the right decision at the final appeal.”
Earlier, the Seoul High Court’s Criminal Division 7, presided over by Koo Hoe-geun, acquitted Mayor Oh on the 23rd. He had been indicted on charges of violating the Political Funds Act. The first-trial court sentenced him to a fine of 10 million won and an additional forfeiture of 21 million won, but the appellate court overturned the ruling, citing concerns including the credibility of Myeong’s statements.

[email protected] Kim Kyung-min Reporter