Seoul:The main opposition People Power Party (PPP) has expressed satisfaction with an appeals court's decision to acquit Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon in a significant political funds case. The case was linked to opinion polls conducted before the 2021 mayoral by-election.

According to Yonhap News Agency, Oh had initially been fined 10 million won (approximately US$7,500) by a lower court for violating the Political Funds Act, which put him at risk of losing his mayoral position. The appeals court's acquittal allows him to continue his role as Mayor of Seoul, a position he holds with the PPP.

"It is a great relief and at the same time only the right thing that the city administration, entrusted to Mayor Oh Se-hoon by ten million residents of Seoul, can continue without disruption," stated PPP chief spokesperson Park Choong-kwon in a commentary. He further commented that the ruling illustrates that "the truth always prevails in the end, even if it takes time."

The charges against Oh involved a political supporter allegedly making payments amounting to 33 million won for opinion polls, which he reportedly received on ten occasions from self-proclaimed power broker Myung Tae-kyun before the 2021 election. Under the Political Funds Act, elected officials face the loss of their positions if subjected to a finalized fine of 1 million won or more for the improper acceptance of political funds.