Seoul Metropolitan Council's PPP welcomes appellate court acquittal, respects court's judgment
Party criticizes special prosecutor's investigation, Democratic Party's political offensive, calls for apology
Emphasizes cooperation for stable city governance and improved quality of life for Seoul residents
The People Power Party caucus at the Seoul Metropolitan Council welcomed Friday's appellate court acquittal of Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon in the so-called Myung Tae-kyun polling-cost payment case, calling the verdict a "victory of truth and common sense."
In a statement released Friday, the caucus said the ruling was "a natural outcome based on truth and legal principles" and "a declaration that corrects political aggression," adding that it respects the court's decision.
The PPP argued the case had been brought on the basis of one-sided testimony with no objective physical evidence. It questioned the fairness of the investigation, noting that the special prosecutor had sought a sentence of one year and six months in prison despite no evidence that Oh had directly ordered the polling or requested that the costs be covered on his behalf.
The caucus also sharply criticized the Democratic Party of Korea, saying it had used the first-instance ruling as grounds to attack city governance and sustain a political offensive against Oh. The PPP urged the Democratic Party to show a responsible attitude in light of the appellate acquittal.
The caucus particularly noted that the political controversy had burdened the stable operation of city government, and called on both the special prosecutor and the Democratic Party to apologize.
"Lies can never defeat the truth," the caucus said, describing the acquittal as the judiciary's correction of what it called a political attempt to obstruct the mayor's administration of the city.
The caucus added that it would continue to work alongside Mayor Oh Se-hoon to support stable city governance, improve the quality of life for Seoul residents and advance the city's sustained development.
7toy7@heraldcorp.com
