Kim Min-seok, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, said he is "mentally preparing on the assumption that the first-trial conviction will stand," ahead of an appeals court ruling on political funds law violation charges against Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon.
Appearing on the party's official YouTube channel "Minti07" on the 23rd, Kim said, "Since we have not found any circumstances or new developments that would change the first-trial conviction, I am leaning more toward the view that it will remain as it is."
"Mentally preparing ultimately means that the likelihood of a Seoul mayoral election is rising," he said. "We are reviewing various matters, centered on Kim Young-bae, chairman of the party's Seoul city chapter."
Criminal Division 7 of the Seoul High Court, presided over by Chief Judge Ku Hoe-keun, will deliver its appellate ruling on the political funds law violation charges against Oh at 2 p.m. that day. In the first trial in July, Oh was fined 10 million won ($7,000) over allegations that he had a third party cover polling costs in the so-called Myung Tae-kyun case — a penalty heavy enough to cost him his post. If the appeals court upholds the ruling and the Supreme Court finalizes it, Oh will lose his position and be barred from running for office for five years.
Kim also said he is weighing how to select the party's candidate for Seoul mayor. "If a by-election situation unfolds, there are candidates from various factions, and there could also be candidates from outside the party," he said. "As we prepare over a short period, we are considering what approach would most efficiently bring together the capabilities of the whole." The remarks are read as signaling that the party could consider a broad field of contenders, including figures from outside its ranks, should a by-election materialize.
Within the party, calls for a stern ruling against Oh have also emerged. Seo Young-kyo, a Democratic Party lawmaker who chairs the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee, argued on social media the previous day that "Oh should be sentenced to prison," adding that "he had illicit political funds paid on his behalf, so he should step down from public office."
Separately, Kim assessed the Legislation and Judiciary Committee's adoption of the confirmation hearing report on Choi Gil-soo, the nominee for special inspector, the previous day as "both a normalization and a step forward." He said, "I am confident that corruption involving the president's family and close aides, or negligence in managing those around him, will hardly occur under this administration," stressing that "the president has long made it a habit to institutionalize internal checks and dissenting voices, even within his own political camp."
Marking the 30th episode of "Minti07" that day, Kim also indicated he would appear less frequently, saying, "From next week, I think I will see you on days other than Monday, Wednesday and Friday, when the supreme council meets."