Seoul City: "Operating a Triangular Squad Targeting Only Oh Se-hoon... Inflating Suspicions"

Newstapa Raises Allegations of Transactions Between Oh Se-hoon and Myeong Tae-gyun

The Seoul Metropolitan Government has refuted media reports alleging a transaction between Mayor Oh Se-hoon, Mr. Myeong Tae-gyun, and Ms. Kang Hye-kyung as "baseless exaggeration."

Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon is answering questions from the press about Myeong Taekyun at the small business support policy announcement held on the 26th in the briefing room of Seoul City Hall, Jung-gu, Seoul. Photo by Jo Yong-jun

On the 1st, Shin Seon-jong, spokesperson for the Seoul Metropolitan Government, stated in a commentary, "Newstapa claims that Chairman Kim Han-jung transferred presidential election polling costs to Ms. Kang Hye-kyung's account with the intention of placing personnel from Gongsaeng School into President Yoon Seok-yeol's election campaign, but there is no evidence to prove this," adding, "The only so-called decisive evidence presented is a single remark from Chairman Kim."

Spokesperson Shin said, "Newstapa insists, without basis, that these individuals are 'close associates of Mayor Oh' and has been making unreasonable assertions," and added, "Perhaps feeling embarrassed, they quietly retracted by saying, 'It seems the transaction ultimately did not materialize.'"

He also stated, "At this point, it raises suspicion that Newstapa's sole purpose is nothing more and nothing less than to 'attack Oh Se-hoon' exclusively," and continued, "Furthermore, Newstapa repeatedly broadcasts their report content on Kim Eo-jun's YouTube show. After that, the Democratic Party issues recycled allegations in the form of spokesperson commentaries."

Spokesperson Shin emphasized, "It looks like a triangular formation of 'only attacking Oh Se-hoon' is in operation," and added, "The public's eyes are not so easily deceived."

Newstapa reported on the same day that they confirmed records showing Chairman Kim, known as a sponsor of Mayor Oh, transferred a total of 14.2 million won in four installments to Ms. Kang, a staff member of the Mirae Korea Research Institute, during the 2021 presidential election period.