Seoul’s mayor, seen as a strong conservative contender in the 2030 presidential election, could be stripped of office and barred from running for up to 10 years following his conviction on political funding law violations
Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon leaves a courtroom at Seoul Central District Court on July 22, 2026, following his sentencing for a political funds scandal. (Yonhap)
Oh Se-hoon rewrote history when he became the first person to win five terms as mayor of Seoul and was widely seen as a strong contender for the People Power Party nomination come the 2030 presidential election. But this could all come crashing down after a court on Wednesday fined him 10 million won for breaking political funding laws. If upheld by the Supreme Court, this sentence will disqualify Oh from office and trigger his removal as mayor of Seoul. He will also be barred from running for office for five years — taking a potential presidential bid off the table. Oh made a name for himself as something of a political comeback kid. After he stepped down as mayor of Seoul after taking responsibility for the botched 2011 referendum on free school meals in schools around the city, he laid low until his comeback in the 2021 mayoral by-election. During the most recent local elections last month, he emerged triumphant despite a wave of Democratic Party wins across the country, making history by winning an unprecedented fifth term as Seoul mayor. But Wednesday’s ruling could cut his political career short. Under Korean law, elected officials are barred from office if they receive a finalized penalty of 1 million won or more for violating the Political Funds Act. That means that if the Supreme Court upholds the district court’s sentence, Oh will not only have to step down as mayor, but he will also be unable to seek office for the next five years — making a 2030 presidential run impossible. Any prison sentence more severe than probation leads to his being barred from elected office for the next 10 years. Despite the potential political repercussions for Oh after Wednesday’s ruling, the Seoul metropolitan government appears likely to maintain the status quo for the time being. “The court’s ruling contains significant errors in its assessment of facts and legal principles, which will be corrected in the higher court,” Oh said during a senior staff meeting following Wednesday’s ruling. “Seoul’s administration must remain unwavering, no matter the circumstances, and I will keep my promise to the people while maintaining a steadfast and responsible attitude,” he added. However, the trial is likely to add to the challenges Oh faces in running the city. He is pursuing major policy initiatives, including urban renewal projects, transportation network expansion, and regulatory easing.Since many of these projects require sustained budget allocations and administrative support, prolonged uncertainty over the mayor’s future could complicate policy implementation and deepen the political pressure surrounding his agenda. It is also likely that relations with the Democrat-ruled Seoul Metropolitan Council will become even more strained. The council issued a commentary on Wednesday urging Oh to resign.By Shin Hyeong-cheol, staff reporterPlease direct questions or comments to [english@hani.co.kr]
