Il Nuovo Postiglione - Seoul mayor indicted over alleged illegal polling payments

Oh Se-hoon of the conservative People Power Party is serving his fourth term as mayor of South Korea's capital and has long been tipped as a future presidential candidate.

Prosecutors accuse him of arranging for a supporter to cover the cost of opinion polling ahead of the 2021 by-election.

They said the 64-year-old mayor had a businessman pay 33 million won ($22,400) over five occasions to fund polls, in breach of the Political Funds Act.

The indictment was launched by a team of lawyers investigating alleged corruption linked to jailed former first lady Kim Keon Hee.

Oh has denied any wrongdoing, dismissing the indictment as a "political scheme".

"This is a far-fetched case without a shred of direct evidence and will only end in acquittal," Oh said in a statement.

"I will stand firm alongside the people of Seoul," he added.

First elected Seoul mayor in 2006, Oh returned to office in 2021 following the death by suicide of successor Park Won-soon.

He has consistently topped recent opinion surveys for next year's local elections -- a race seen as a potential springboard for a presidential bid if he secures another term.

Under South Korea's election laws, a conviction carrying a fine of one million won or more would strip him of eligibility to run next year.

R.Agosti--INP