Oh Se-hoon Acquitted People Power Party 'Welcomes Amid Complexity', Democratic Party 'Actually Advantageous', Reform Party 'Closely Follows', Cho Kuk 'Furious'

As Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon was acquitted in the appellate hearing of the 'Myeong Tae-gyun opinion poll subcontracting suspicion' case, the political calculations of the ruling and opposition 4 parties are diverging.

On the 23rd, the Criminal Division 7 of the Seoul High Court (Presiding Judge Gu Hoe-geun) acquitted Mayor Oh, who was indicted on charges of violating the Political Funds Act. This overturned the 10 million won fine and 21 million won in additional charges imposed in the first trial last July.

Mayor Oh was indicted on charges of requesting an opinion poll from political broker Myeong Tae-gyun ahead of the 2021 Seoul mayoral by-election, and then having businessman Kim Han-jeong pay the cost of 33 million won on his behalf.

However, the appellate court found it difficult to trust the testimony of Myeong, a key witness, and determined there was insufficient evidence to confirm that Mayor Oh requested or conspired in the subcontracting of the opinion poll fees. Businessman Kim and former Seoul City Deputy Mayor for Political Affairs Kang Cheol-won, who were also indicted, were also acquitted.

With this ruling, Mayor Oh has substantially reduced the burden of potentially losing his mayoral position. However, as the special prosecutor has announced plans to appeal, the final judgment is expected to move to the Supreme Court.

The most complex position is faced by the People Power Party.

People Power Party Chairman Jang Dong-hyeok evaluated Mayor Oh's acquittal as 'inevitable retribution' and welcomed it. However, the reduction of Mayor Oh's judicial burden could become a new variable in the power structure within the People Power Party.

Mayor Oh has been at odds with party leadership by criticizing Chairman Jang's management style and efforts to discipline lawmakers outside the mainstream faction. In August, he pointed out that "ethics committee politics is the lowest form of politics" regarding internal party discipline issues.

If Mayor Oh expands his political activities as a result of the acquittal in the appellate hearing, changes could occur in the leadership competition within the conservative camp that has been unfolding centered on Chairman Jang and independent lawmaker Han Dong-hun.

Conversely, the Democratic Party has been able to reduce its burden from a Seoul mayoral by-election, despite criticizing the acquittal verdict politically.

Democratic Party Chairman Kim Min-seok criticized the ruling on grounds that it is difficult to accept, and floor leader Han Byeong-do also demanded immediate appeal by the special prosecutor.

However, within the party, concerns have been raised that holding a by-election itself would be a significant burden given recent Seoul real estate issues and deteriorating sentiment in the Seoul metropolitan area.

In particular, Chairman Kim announced before the August national convention that Seoul mayoral by-election preparations would begin under his responsibility as party chairman, and that he would seek reconfirmation after the election.

If a Seoul mayoral by-election were to materialize, the results could raise questions about Chairman Kim's political responsibility.

Democratic Party lawmakers from the Seoul metropolitan area also expressed concerns about the election, citing poor sentiment in the region due to real estate issues.

The Reform Party drew attention with the activities of lawmaker Lee Jun-seok.

On this day, lawmaker Lee directly visited the Seoul High Court where Mayor Oh's appellate hearing decision was held and greeted Mayor Oh alongside People Power Party lawmakers.

The lawmaker posted on his SNS: "Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon was acquitted in trial," adding "I humbly congratulate Mayor Oh on his name recovery."

He continued: "There will be those who now speak words they don't mean depending on political advantages and disadvantages, but there were those who, the so-called 'Myeong Tae-gyun gate,' attempted third-party assassination by borrowing the Democratic Party's blade to magnify it. If you keep accepting freebies, bad things will happen."

The Cho Kuk Innovation Party showed the opposite reaction.

Cho Kuk, director of the Cho Kuk Innovation Party's Research Institute for Innovation Policy, posted on his SNS on that day: "The counterattack of 'judicial politics' that I warned of multiple times continues," adding "This is the result of failing to firmly pursue judicial reform including abolishing the Court Administration Office and impeaching Cho Hee-dae."

Director Cho also made the claim that the judiciary launched a counterattack taking advantage of the declining approval ratings of President Lee Jae-myung and the Democratic Party.

He urged the Democratic Party, asking ""Will you still postpone judicial reform even after this" and called for active pursuit of judicial reform including impeachment of Chief Justice Cho.