Hong Joon-pyo: Yoon's conviction may impact Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon's case

Hong Joon-pyo, the former governor of South Gyeongsang Province, has weighed in on a recent court ruling that handed a prison sentence to former President Yoon Suk-yeol, suggesting the decision was accurate and could impact other politicians.

Speaking on a radio program, Hong stated, "Judge Lee Jin-kwon made an accurate judgment." The court sentenced Yoon to two years in prison and ordered the forfeiture of approximately 13.96 million won for violating the Political Funds Act. The ruling also involved the legal broker, identified as Myung Tae-gyun, who was taken into custody for fear of evidence destruction.

Hong specifically drew parallels to the case of Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon, who is also facing charges related to receiving opinion poll data. "I think it will be difficult for Mayor Oh Se-hoon to escape this," Hong commented when asked about the possibility of Oh's case also resulting in a guilty verdict. He added that he had known about Oh Se-hoon and Myung Tae-gyun's connection since his time as governor of Gyeongnam Province, and had heard that Myung was a "fraudster who manipulates public opinion."

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Judge Lee Jin-kwon made an accurate judgment. I think it will be difficult for Mayor Oh Se-hoon to escape this.

The case against Mayor Oh Se-hoon stems from allegations that he received results from 10 opinion polls from Myung Tae-gyun ahead of the 2021 Seoul mayoral by-election. The prosecution claims that Oh's associate, Kang Cheol-won, then deputy mayor for political affairs, arranged for a campaign supporter, businessman Kim Han-jung, to cover the 33 million won cost. The prosecution has requested a sentence of 1 year and 6 months in prison and the forfeiture of 33 million won for Oh. The first-instance verdict for Oh's case is scheduled for March 22.

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court is set to deliver its ruling on March 16 regarding Kim Keon-hee, the First Lady, who was acquitted in the first and second trials for similar charges. Hong had previously described the earlier acquittals as "absurd."

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That was absurd.