Oh Se-hoon Fined KRW 10,000,000 in 1 Trial: Will He Immediately Lose His Position as Seoul Mayor? Appeals Process Explained
이 포스팅은 쿠팡 파트너스 활동의 일환으로, 이에 따른 일정액의 수수료를 제공받습니다.
This article is based on the latest available news reports and official materials verified as of 2026-07-23 Korea Standard Time.
Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon was sentenced to a fine of KRW 10,000,000 and an additional payment of KRW 21,000,000 in the 1 trial of a Political Funds Act violation case on 2026-07-22.
However, the 1 trial verdict does not mean that he immediately loses his position as Seoul mayor.
An elected public official loses their election and position only when a sentence involving a fine of KRW 1,000,000 or more for violating the Political Funds Act becomes final and binding. Oh's legal team has announced its intention to appeal the ruling.
Why Does Oh Se-hoon Remain Seoul Mayor After the 1 Trial Verdict?
The ruling was issued by the Seoul Central District Court in the 1 trial.
If either the defendant or the prosecution files an appeal within the prescribed period, the case proceeds to an appellate court. Because the proceedings may subsequently reach the Supreme Court, the 1 trial verdict cannot be considered final.
The current situation can be summarized as follows.
| Category | Currently Confirmed Information | Significance |
|---|---|---|
| Trial stage | 1 trial | Not a final, binding judgment |
| Fine | KRW 10,000,000 | Exceeds the threshold for losing the mayoral position if finalized |
| Additional payment order | KRW 21,000,000 | Amount ordered to be recovered separately from the fine |
| Mayoral position | Retained | No immediate loss of office before the judgment becomes final |
| Next steps | Intention to appeal announced | Appellate hearing schedule requires separate confirmation |
The fine threshold for invalidating an election following a Political Funds Act violation is KRW 1,000,000.
Comparing the 1 trial fine of KRW 10,000,000 with the KRW 1,000,000 threshold shows that it is exactly 10 times higher.
Author's calculation: KRW 10,000,000 ÷ KRW 1,000,000 = 10 times
However, the sentence could be upheld or reduced on appeal or further review, and the verdict could also be overturned in favor of an acquittal.
The fact that the fine imposed in the 1 trial exceeds the threshold is not the same as the sentence having become final.
What Did the Court Find Him Guilty Of?
The central issue in this case is whether having a 3rd party pay for opinion polls conducted ahead of the April 2021 Seoul mayoral by-election violated the Political Funds Act.
According to reports summarizing the 1 trial ruling, the court found that Oh conspired with Kang Cheol-won, a former Seoul vice mayor for political affairs, to commission opinion polls from the side associated with Myung Tae-kyun and arranged for businessman Kim Han-jung, described as a supporter, to pay the expenses on their behalf.
The original proceedings examined 10 opinion polls, including those intended for public release and those not intended for publication. The court reportedly found the third-party payment of KRW 21,000,000 in expenses associated with 5 of those polls to be unlawful.
The court's findings differ from Oh's position.
Court's finding: The court determined that a conspiratorial relationship existed between the commissioning of the opinion polls and the payment of their costs by a 3rd party.
Oh's position: His legal team argues that there is insufficient objective, direct evidence that he personally commissioned the opinion polls.
Current status: Oh's legal team has announced its intention to appeal.
Therefore, while it is confirmed that the 1 trial resulted in a guilty verdict, Oh's objections have not yet been conclusively resolved through the judicial process.
Are the KRW 10,000,000 Fine and KRW 21,000,000 Additional Payment the Same Thing?
The fine and the additional payment order serve different purposes.
The KRW 10,000,000 fine is the criminal penalty imposed by the court for the Political Funds Act violation. The decisive issue in determining whether Oh loses his position is whether the fine ultimately becomes final and binding.
The additional payment of KRW 21,000,000 is a separate recovery order corresponding to the opinion polling expenses that the court found were unlawfully paid.
The two amounts should not be combined and described as a fine of KRW 31,000,000.
Criminal penalty: Fine of KRW 10,000,000
Separate recovery order: Additional payment of KRW 21,000,000
Combined amount payable: KRW 31,000,000, assuming the judgment becomes final without changes
Standard for determining loss of office: The decisive factor is the type and amount of the criminal sentence ultimately upheld in a final judgment.
Oh would not lose his position because the additional payment is large. The determining factor is whether a fine of KRW 1,000,000 or more for violating the Political Funds Act becomes final.
What Happens After an Appeal Is Filed?
Under the Criminal Procedure Act, the deadline for appealing a 1 trial judgment is 7 days.
Oh announced his intention to appeal immediately after sentencing. Whether the appeal has actually been filed, which appellate panel will be assigned the case, and when the first hearing will take place must be confirmed through subsequent court proceedings.
The expected sequence is as follows.
1. The defendant or prosecution files a notice of appeal.
2. The case is assigned to an appellate court panel.
3. Grounds for appeal are submitted, followed by appellate hearings.
4. The 2 trial judgment is issued.
5. If a further appeal is filed, the Supreme Court reviews the case.
6. The final sentence becomes legally binding.
If the fine is reduced below KRW 1,000,000 or Oh is acquitted on appeal, the outcome regarding his position as mayor could change.
Conversely, if a fine of KRW 1,000,000 or more, or a more severe sentence, for violating the Political Funds Act becomes final, his election will be invalidated and he will lose his position as mayor.
At present, it is not possible to state a specific date for the appellate judgment or a final Supreme Court ruling.
Three Things to Watch Now
First, it is important to confirm when Oh's legal team actually files its appeal.
An announcement of an intention to appeal must be distinguished from the actual submission and acceptance of a notice of appeal by the court.
Second, attention should also be paid to whether the special prosecutor appeals.
During the final hearing, the special prosecutor sought a prison sentence of 1 years and 6 months for Oh, along with a larger additional payment order. Because the sentence imposed in the 1 trial was lighter than the prosecution's request, the special prosecutor may review the written judgment before deciding whether to appeal.
Third, it matters which findings from the 1 trial the appellate court upholds or overturns.
In particular, whether Oh commissioned the opinion polls, whether there was a conspiracy involving payment of the expenses by a 3rd party, and the credibility of Myung Tae-kyun's testimony compared with other evidence may become major issues again.
The current situation can be described accurately as follows.
A guilty verdict was issued in the 1 trial and an appeal has been announced, but Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon retains his position until a final, binding judgment is reached.
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