Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon Acquitted in Political Funds Case

Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon has been acquitted in a high-profile political funds case, South Korea's national news agency Yonhap reported. 

Oh had faced charges of violating the Political Funds Act by receiving opinion polls paid for by a self-proclaimed power broker, Myung Tae-kyun, ahead of the 2021 mayoral by-election, Yonhap News Agency said in a statement.

The main opposition People Power Party welcomed the appeals court's decision, with its chief spokesperson Park Choong-kwon saying it was a relief that Mayor Oh could continue in his role without disruption. The party's statement described the ruling as a victory for truth.

Oh had been fined 10 million won by a lower court, but the appeals court overturned that decision. 

The Political Funds Act stipulates that elected officials can be stripped of their seats if they receive a finalized fine of 1 million won or heavier punishment for improper acceptance of political funds.

The case involved payments totaling 33 million won for opinion polls that Oh allegedly received on 10 occasions from Myung Tae-kyun.

The Seoul mayor is affiliated with the People Power Party.

The acquittal allows Oh to maintain his position as Seoul's mayor.

The Political Funds Act is a key piece of legislation governing the financing of political activities in South Korea.

The law aims to prevent corruption and ensure transparency in political funding.

Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon has been in office since 2021.