Judge Scolds Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon: 'Why Do You Assume?'

Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon faced a stern rebuke from the presiding judge during his trial on charges related to the Political Funds Act. The court session, which began on April 15, saw Mayor Oh and his co-defendants, former Seoul Vice Mayor Kang Cheol-won and businessman Kim Han-jung, appearing before the court. The case centers on allegations that Oh had a supporter cover the costs of opinion polls.

During the proceedings, Mayor Oh's defense team requested that the evidence examination be expedited due to the upcoming June local elections, arguing that the mayor's attendance at what they deemed a "formal" evidence review would be politically motivated. However, the judge expressed frustration with the mayor's apparent assumptions about the trial's schedule.

When Mayor Oh indicated he had an election-related schedule in the afternoon and had expected the court session to conclude early, the judge sharply questioned his reasoning. "Why do you think that on your own?" the judge retorted, also criticizing the defense for submitting their opinion on the evidence only the day before. The court ultimately set the next hearing for April 22, emphasizing that the mayor should not expect proceedings to bend to his convenience. This exchange highlights the tension between the judicial process and the demands of electoral campaigns, particularly for high-profile political figures.