South Korea special prosecutor indicts Seoul mayor for violating political funding law

By Ju-min Park

A South Korean special prosecutor has indicted Seoul's mayor, Oh Se-hoon, for violating political funding laws in connection with a scandal involving a power broker, the prosecutor's team said on Monday.

Oh is accused of running an opinion poll through the broker and having a third person pay for the poll, the team said in a statement.

Oh, who is from the major opposition People Power Party (PPP), denied the accusations involving the broker, saying the investigation was politically motivated.

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"This is an unreasonable, fabricated indictment without a single piece of solid evidence. This is an indictment that is destined for acquittal," Oh said in a statement.

Since the December 3 martial law declaration opened up a series of criminal investigations into the ousted President Yoon Suk Yeol and his wife Kim Keon Hee, the special prosecutor is investigating an influence-peddling scandal whereby the couple are accused of interfering in an election using the broker.

Oh, who served as mayor of Seoul between 2006 and 2011 and again from 2021 until now, is considered a potential presidential candidate among South Korea's conservatives.