Seoul Mayor Oh denies resignation rumor; city seeks cyber investigation

A false message claiming Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon would hold a resignation press conference at 10 p.m. Friday spread online, prompting the Seoul Metropolitan Government to announce it would request a cyber investigation.

According to the city government, an unattributed message reading "Received: Oct. 9 (Fri.) 10 p.m. Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon resignation press conference" circulated on social media. City spokesperson Ho Jun-seok called the claim "groundless" and said the city would "request a cyber investigation into the malicious spread." The city urged the public to exercise particular caution in sharing the information, saying its basis was unclear.

The false post emerged ahead of Oh's appellate sentencing on Oct. 23 on charges of violating the Political Funds Act. Oh is accused of commissioning polls from political broker Myung Tae-kyun before the 2021 Seoul mayoral by-election and having supporter Kim Han-jeong pay the 33 million won ($24,600) cost on his behalf.

The trial court found Oh guilty on charges related to having 21 million won paid on his behalf for five of the polls, sentencing him to a fine of 10 million won and a surcharge of 21 million won. The special prosecutor's team sought the same sentence in the appellate proceedings as at trial — one year and six months in prison and a surcharge of 33 million won.

The case has drawn added attention after Seoul High Court's Criminal Division 7 — the same panel handling Oh's appeal — acquitted former President Yoon Suk Yeol and Myung on separate Political Funds Act charges. During the appellate proceedings, a recording was also disclosed in which Myung told Kim in a phone call that "Oh Se-hoon doesn't know about this." Oh's legal team has presented the recording as evidence that he had no involvement in commissioning the polls or arranging payment.