Seoul Mayor Faces Grilling in High-Stakes Power Broker Showdown

Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon Faces Special Counsel in Poll Rigging Probe

Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon found himself under intense scrutiny Saturday, appearing before a special counsel investigating allegations of political fund violations stemming from his 2021 mayoral by-election victory. The mayor was cross-examined alongside Myung Tae-kyun, a controversial figure described as a political power broker, adding another layer of complexity to the ongoing investigation.

Seoul Mayor Faces Grilling in High-Stakes Power Br...

Oh arrived at the office of special counsel Min Joong-ki early Saturday morning, marking his first appearance before the special counsel, although he had previously been questioned by prosecutors in May regarding the same case. The core of the investigation revolves around accusations that a supporter of Oh, identified as Kim Han-jung, illicitly funded unpublished opinion polls during the by-election campaign.

Specifically, the probe is examining whether

Specifically, the probe is examining whether Kim Han-jung commissioned Myung Tae-kyun's polling company to conduct 13 private opinion polls and subsequently paid 33 million won (approximately $22,650) for these services, allegedly on Oh's behalf. The legality of these payments and their potential impact on the election outcome are central to the special counsel's investigation.

The stakes were heightened by Myung Tae-kyun's appearance as a witness. Upon arrival, Myung made a potentially damaging statement to reporters, suggesting that Kim Han-jung may have transferred the funds at Oh Se-hoon's direction. This claim directly implicates the mayor and intensifies the pressure on him to provide a credible explanation.

Investigators are reportedly focused on determining whether Oh was aware of Kim's payments to Myung and whether these payments were directly linked to the polling agency's provision of unpublished opinion poll data during the campaign. The critical question is whether these actions constitute a violation of political funds laws and whether they unfairly influenced the election results.

Before entering the special counsel's office,

Before entering the special counsel's office, Oh attempted to preemptively address the allegations, showing reporters a printed news report. He claimed the report indicated that the unpublished opinion polls Myung purported to provide to his campaign were largely fabricated and not consistently shared. He cited a forensic investigation as the basis for his claim.

The mayor's defense hinges on discrediting the validity and impact of the polls, while the special counsel aims to establish a clear link between the payments, the polls, and Oh's knowledge of the transactions. The outcome of this investigation could have significant political ramifications for Oh Se-hoon and potentially reshape the political landscape in Seoul.