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


Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon speaks during an interview with Reuters in Seoul, South Korea, March 3, 2023. REUTERS/Kim Soo-hyeon

SEOUL, Dec 1 (Reuters) - 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.

"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.

(Reporting by Ju-min Park; Editing by Ed Davies)

Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel for breaking news alerts and key updates!

Next In World

New famine risk haunts war-torn Sudan with El Ni�o-driven drought
All 14 Indians in yacht incident off Yemen coast reported safe, embassy says
French businesses, events to close with more weekend protests expected
Pope Leo cancels Assisi trip to aid recovery from cancer surgery
From Buenos Aires to Colombo, discontent simmers under the surface of rebounding economies
South Korea proposes talks with North Korea on land border again
New Zealand's top military officer resigns over 'inappropriate relationship'
Australian TV reporter recalls 'terrifying' rescue of man from sinking car
Taiwan shuts down ahead of Typhoon Champi, nearly 1,000 flights cancelled
Peru announces 5.25 bln USD in fiscal measures to tackle El Nino impacts

Air Pollutant Index

Note: API is calculated based on 24hr running average of the most dominant parameter.

Highest API Readings

    Select State and Location to view the latest API reading

    Others Also Read