Seoul responds to special counsel’s appeal: “Repeating claims already rejected ... no new evidence”

[Financial News] After the special counsel team appealed to the Supreme Court in the case involving allegations that Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon violated the Political Funds Act, the Seoul Metropolitan Government said the team was “repeating claims that have already been rejected.” It said there was no point in repeating its existing arguments without new evidence, given that Oh was acquitted on appeal. Lee Jong-hyun, a special adviser on public engagement and livelihood issues for the Seoul Metropolitan Government, issued a statement on the 30th, saying, “The special counsel’s grounds for appeal have not moved beyond the arguments it advanced throughout the first and second trials,” and that it was “repeating, like a broken record, claims already rejected on the basis of objective evidence and testimony.”
Lee cited the January 22 missed call, a message from someone associated with the election campaign, and records of a 10 million won transfer, among other evidence presented by the special counsel, and said the appellate court had already reviewed the relevant evidence and reached its decision.
Lee also disputed the special counsel’s use of an issue concerning the date recorded in the ruling as grounds for appeal. The special counsel has argued that Oh and Myeong Tae-gyun continued their relationship for a considerable period after meeting on December 9, 2020. The Seoul Metropolitan Government said the meeting had been arranged through an introduction by former lawmaker Kim Young-sun, a fact Oh’s side has also acknowledged.
“For nearly a month after that, Mayor Oh didn’t even know Myeong Tae-gyun’s contact information,” Lee said. “Above all, correcting that date would not affect the ruling’s conclusion.”
Lee again emphasized the grounds for the appellate court’s acquittal. The actual polling work began before the time when Myeong claimed he had received a call from Mayor Oh requesting a poll, and the person riding alongside him, who should have heard the call, testified that they did not remember hearing Oh’s voice. He also pointed to the fact that most of the poll results were delivered to the party leadership at the time, not to Oh.
“Changing one date won’t make this evidence disappear,” Lee said, adding, “The special counsel has yet to produce evidence that Mayor Oh actually commissioned the polls.” He continued, “It was expected that the special counsel would appeal today, so we will calmly await the Supreme Court’s decision. Mayor Oh Se-hoon will remain focused on city administration without wavering, so that citizens can feel reassured.”
The Seoul High Court had previously acquitted Mayor Oh on the 23rd. He had been indicted over allegations that a third party paid the costs of opinion polls linked to Myeong Tae-gyun. The special counsel appealed the acquittal, and the case will now go to the Supreme Court for a final ruling.

[email protected] Seong Cho-rong Reporter