Seoul Mayor's House Searched in Corruption Investigation

Yonhap News Agency reported on March 20 that the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office sent investigators to the office of Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon and his residence on the morning of the same day to search for evidence related to corruption allegations. The residence of former Vice Mayor for Public Affairs Kang Cheol-won was also searched.

Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon delivers a campaign speech in 2022.

According to the allegations, businessman Kim Han-jung, a supporter of Mr. Oh, asked the Korea Future Research Institute, a polling company run by Mr. Myung Tae-kyun, to conduct 13 unpublished surveys during the 2021 Seoul mayoral election campaign. Mr. Kim is said to have paid 33 million won (579 million VND) for the survey costs on Mr. Oh's behalf.

Mr Myung, a self-described power broker, said he met Mr Oh seven times and had a three-way meeting with Mr Oh and Mr Kim, and played a key role in Mr Oh's victory that year.

Mayor Oh and Mr. Kim denied the information. Mr. Oh said he only met Mr. Myung twice in January 2021 but then cut off the relationship. Mr. Kim admitted to transferring money to Mr. Myung but emphasized that it had nothing to do with Mr. Oh's election campaign. At the end of 2024, Mayor Oh also sued and accused Mr. Myung of fraud.

According to Yonhap, Seoul prosecutors have so far only summoned the Seoul mayor's aides and Mr. Kim to investigate the connection with Mr. Myung. Previously, the case was handled by the Changwon District Prosecutors' Office in Changwon City, where Mr. Myung's company is based.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/kham-xet-nha-thi-truong-seoul-de-dieu-tra-tham-nhung-185250320092215595.htm