Prosecutors carried out a search and seizure operation at the residence and office of Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon on Thursday, as part of an investigation into alleged corrupt ties between Oh and Myung Tae-kyun, a pollster who allegedly fabricated polls to broker the election candidacies of conservative political heavyweights.
Thursday’s raid by the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office is seen as an effort to expand the ongoing investigation into multiple election nomination scandals involving Myung and key conservative politicians. The probe, which began in December last year, includes figures such as suspended President Yoon Suk Yeol and first lady Kim Keon-hee.
The Seoul Metropolitan Government announced that Oh submitted his computers, past and current smartphones for digital forensic analysis, adding that the prosecutors’ operation was carried out to secure the public opinion polling-related documents, items and information that were either sent or received by the mayor between January and April 2021.
Oh allegedly enlisted the pollster’s help to conduct 13 unpublished polls, with businessperson and supporter Kim Han-jung covering the costs. Kang Hye-kyung, a former member of Myung’s polling agency, reportedly received a total of 33 million won ($22,600) from Kim in 2021, according to the prosecution.
Myung was indicted and detained on charges of violating the Political Funds Act in December 2024, and has since confessed that he tried to manipulate public opinion at the request of top ruling party politicians, including Oh Se-hoon and Daegu Mayor Hong Joon-pyo. Myung continued to claim that he played a crucial role in facilitating Oh’s Seoul mayoral by-election win in 2021.
But Oh denied allegations of receiving any data from Myung and filed a complaint against him for deception and obstruction of business charges last year.
During the prosecutors' search and seizure operation on Thursday morning, Oh reportedly assured city government officials that the measures were merely the final steps in concluding the Myung-related investigation and were nothing out of the ordinary.
In a broadcast on TV Chosun Monday, the Seoul mayor said he expects prosecutors to summon him after repeatedly questioning his close associates. Oh stated that he anticipates being called in and believes his appearance will mark the conclusion of the investigation, reaffirming his innocence.
Meanwhile, Oh's supporter, Kim Han-jung, admitted that he had sent money to Kang, but claimed it had nothing to do with Oh’s campaign.
Kim argued that the money was not sent to cover public opinion poll expenses, but was merely an attempt to leave a good impression of Oh to Myung, who claimed to have ties with President Yoon.
Close associates of Oh's that have been summoned and investigated by the prosecution so far include: Kim, former Deputy Mayor of Seoul Kang Cheol-won, and other key Seoul Metropolitan Government officials.
The prosecution previously searched Kim’s house and office on Feb. 26. It also summoned him to question whether he had paid for the public opinion polls on behalf of Oh.
The city government said it would verify the warrant in the presence of Oh's lawyers and cooperate with prosecutors accordingly.
sj_lee@heraldcorp.com
