Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon states his position as he attends the first-instance sentencing hearing for the 'Myong Tae-gyun opinion poll suspicion' case at the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho-gu, Seoul on the 17th. [Yonhap News] 

Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon has been sentenced to one year and six months in prison for allegedly receiving opinion poll results from Myong Tae-gyun and having a sponsor pay the costs.

The special prosecution team led by Min Jung-ki requested on the 17th at the closing trial of Mayor Oh's violation of the Political Funds Act, held at the Criminal Agreement Division 22 of the Seoul Central District Court (Presiding Judge Cho Hyung-woo), "We request that the defendant be sentenced to one year and six months in prison with a forfeiture of 33 million won."

Former Seoul Metropolitan Government Deputy Mayor Kang Cheol-won and businessman Kim Han-jeong, who were indicted alongside Mayor Oh, were each sentenced to one year in prison.

The special prosecution team criticized, "As a prominent politician, Mayor Oh should have abided by the Political Funds Act more than anyone else. However, by having a third party pay for opinion poll costs, which are closely related to political activities, without going through legal procedures, he undermined the legislative objective of securing transparency in political funds."

It further pointed out, "Furthermore, he circumvented the regulations on receiving political funds, damaging public trust in the rule of law, and despite being the ultimate beneficiary of the crime, he is denying his involvement and evading responsibility during the investigation and trial."

Mayor Oh was indicted without detention on December 1st of last year, accused of receiving opinion poll results from Mr. Myong a total of 10 times in the lead-up to the April 7, 2021, Seoul mayoral by-election and having Mr. Kim, known as a long-time sponsor, pay the costs of 33 million won.

Former Deputy Mayor Kang, who was the secretary-general of the campaign at the time, was indicted for allegedly being involved in the opinion poll process, including contacting Mr. Myong and exchanging questionnaires under Mayor Oh's instructions.

Mr. Kim was also brought to trial on charges of violating the Political Funds Act by paying political funds that Mayor Oh should have borne.