A new piece of evidence has surfaced in the ongoing trial of Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon concerning allegations of illegal campaign fund disbursements. The emergence of an audio recording, purportedly featuring a conversation where an individual states that the Mayor was unaware of certain actions, has intensified scrutiny on the second trial. Mayor Oh was initially fined 10 million won in the first trial and has since appealed the decision.
New Audio Evidence Presented in Appeal Trial
The Seoul High Court’s Criminal Division 7 (Presiding Judge Gu Hye-geun) held an appeal hearing on the 16th for Mayor Oh Se-hoon, former Seoul Vice Mayor Kang Cheol-won, and others involved in alleged violations of the Political Funds Act. During this hearing, an audio recording file between Mr. Myung, a broker, and Mr. Kim, who is accused of disbursing the funds, was presented as evidence and played in court.
This recording, allegedly made by Mr. Kim, contains statements suggesting the Mayor’s lack of direct knowledge regarding the handling of the funds. In one segment, Mr. Myung is heard saying, “Mayor Oh doesn’t know. Don’t worry, I’ll take care of it.” In another part, he adds, “The Mayor handled it discreetly, and this must not get out.”
The prosecution’s special investigation team, led by prosecutor Min Jung-gi, objected to the admission of this audio file as evidence. However, the appellate court decided to accept it, ruling that there was no immediate indication of the recording being illegally obtained or fabricated. The court acknowledged the recording as evidence to determine the credibility of Mr. Kim’s testimony.
Content of the Contested Audio Recording
The audio file, approximately 18 minutes long, captures conversations between Mr. Kim and Mr. Myung on March 6th and 13th, 2021. In these discussions, Mr. Kim reportedly stated his intention to help Mayor Oh win the election, saying, “I did this to help that person. The results came out that way, so it wasn’t what they wanted, and I had no reason to bring it up first.”
Mr. Myung, in the recording, appears to distance himself from direct knowledge of the Mayor’s involvement, stating, “Mayor Oh doesn’t know.” He also reportedly made remarks such as, “His courage is small,” when discussing the Mayor.
The conversation also touches upon the secrecy of the transactions. When Mr. Myung mentioned, “The Mayor handled it discreetly, and this must not get out,” Mr. Kim responded with apparent surprise, questioning the basis of such a statement. Mr. Kim also stated, “We didn’t discuss this. I asked you about it,” and “Money was sent through accounts, and I didn’t even know it was going that way.”
Mr. Kim’s defense team submitted a report on the authenticity of the audio file, which was noted as reference material by the court. The recording was played in its entirety during the trial.
Mayor Oh’s Defense and Mr. Kim’s Motivation
Mayor Oh’s legal team has argued that Mr. Kim unilaterally decided to disburse the funds to support the election, asserting that these payments were not made at the Mayor’s request. They maintain that the evidence will show the disbursements were independent actions by Mr. Kim.
When questioned about why he recorded his conversations with Mr. Myung, Mr. Kim explained that he had observed Mr. Myung frequently making his own recordings. This led Mr. Kim to believe that his own words might be used against him, prompting him to also start recording conversations for his own protection.
Next Steps in the Legal Proceedings
The appellate court is scheduled to deliver its final verdict on October 2nd. The proceedings will include final statements from the prosecution, the defense, and the individuals involved. This hearing will be crucial in determining the final resolution of the case, with particular attention on how the newly admitted audio evidence influences the court’s decision.
The case revolves around allegations that campaign funds were improperly handled, and the appeal trial is expected to thoroughly examine the roles and knowledge of all parties involved, including Mayor Oh Se-hoon.
