[2025 Audit] Second Round Over Hangang Bus and Myung Taegyun... Renewed Showdown at the Seoul Mayoral Audit

National Assembly Audit of Seoul City by Public Administration and Security Committee on the 23rd
Policy Scrutiny of Oh Sehoon Follows Housing Price Debate
Round Two of Hangang Bus Controversy with Key Witnesses Testifying
Myung Taegyun Appears as Witness; City Denounces "Mudslinging Election"

Seoul Mayor Oh Sehoon will undergo a parliamentary audit by the National Assembly’s Public Administration and Security Committee on the 23rd. Following the National Assembly Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee’s audit, which saw a heated blame game over rising housing prices, this session is expected to focus on an all-out confrontation regarding the so-called 'Myung Taegyun Gate' allegations. The ruling party is also set to intensify its attacks on Mayor Oh’s flagship 'Hangang Bus' project.

According to political sources, the Public Administration and Security Committee will begin its audit of Seoul City at Seoul City Hall starting at 10 a.m. on this day. This will be Mayor Oh’s final parliamentary audit during his eighth term as an elected official.

Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon is responding to questions from committee members during the National Assembly Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee's audit on Seoul City held at Seoul City Hall on the 20th. Photo by Yonhap News

Ruling party lawmakers are expected to ramp up their scrutiny of the Hangang Bus project, following their previous offensive during the Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee’s audit on the 20th. They are likely to continue raising concerns over safety, citing the suspension of passenger operations just ten days after launch due to malfunctions, as well as criticizing the project’s structure for placing an excessive fiscal burden on the city.

Furthermore, on this day, the Public Administration and Security Committee, led by the Democratic Party, has requested four witnesses-including Sohn Jeongil, CEO of Gadeok Heavy Industries, and Kim Seonjik, CEO of Hangang Bus-to question Mayor Oh regarding the Hangang Bus project. The Democratic Party is expected to thoroughly examine the project’s initial plans, the process of building the vessels, and the selection of companies involved from the very beginning of the Hangang Bus project.

Political broker Mr. Myung will appear as a witness in the afternoon. Mayor Oh faces allegations that, during the 2021 Seoul mayoral by-election, he received unpublished poll results from the Future Korea Research Institute operated by Mr. Myung, and that Kim Hanjeong, known as a supporter of Mayor Oh, paid the costs on his behalf.

The Democratic Party has announced its intention to reignite the 'Myung Taegyun Gate' allegations surrounding Mayor Oh. The Democratic Party’s New Seoul Preparation Special Committee held a press conference at the National Assembly the previous day, stating, "This will be a critical turning point in uncovering suspicions of illegal polling and proxy payment of polling expenses by Mayor Oh." The committee added, "Of the 25 polls conducted by the Future Korea Research Institute, which was effectively run by Mr. Myung, 13 were related to Mayor Oh, and some are strongly suspected to have been used for illegal manipulation of public opinion. There is no longer any way to escape with lies. If Mayor Oh is confident in his innocence, he should speak directly in front of Mr. Myung tomorrow."

However, Mayor Oh has repeatedly emphasized his existing position that "after Mr. Myung intentionally approached me and we met twice, I severed all ties." Kim Byungmin, Seoul’s Deputy Mayor for Political Affairs, also criticized, "Despite the absence of any legal risks for Mayor Oh, the Democratic Party is fabricating issues and continuing to push for investigations. The arena for sound policy debate and competition about how to make Seoul a better city has completely disappeared."

He further expressed concern, saying, "There is growing worry that this is an attempt to drag Mayor Oh into a political mudslinging contest even before the election has begun. Regarding the adoption of Mr. Myung as a witness for this audit and how proceedings will unfold, it will ultimately be up to the citizens to evaluate and judge."

In addition, diverging opinions between the ruling and opposition parties on policies such as Seoul Learn, Climate Companion Card, and Didimdol Income-which are part of the city’s 'Walking with the Vulnerable' initiative and have received positive feedback from citizens-will also be a key point of interest. Issues such as sinkholes, the Namsan gondola, the TBS incident, the Ferris wheel, and floating hotels may also come to the forefront.