People Power Party lawmaker Yoon Sang-hyun said Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon's acquittal on appeal was a case of "justice ultimately prevailing and truth finding its rightful place."
Writing on his Facebook page Friday, Yoon said he wanted to offer "sincere words of comfort and congratulations" to Oh, who had "endured a difficult period" after being handed a first-instance ruling that would have stripped him of his mayoral post.
"I respect the judiciary's decision, which was made on the basis of law and evidence," Yoon said. "Truth always finds its way back."
He added that he had visited the court Saturday as a longtime political ally. "I believed it was the duty of a political comrade to stand by someone in difficult times," he said.
Yoon said he hoped Oh could now "step out of the quagmire of political battles and focus entirely on the lives of Seoul citizens and economic stability." He added that the ruling would likely draw fresh attention to Oh's political role going forward.
"It is time for all of us to think together about how to gather the voices of citizens who want change and innovation in the conservative camp," Yoon said. "The people must always be at the center of politics."
bigroot@heraldcorp.com
