As the appeal verdict for Mayor Oh Se-hoon approaches, attention is turning to the future of the Seun 4 District development plan. The first instance court sentenced him to a fine of 10 million won and a forfeiture of 21 million won, but the outcome of the appeal could determine whether he retains his position as mayor. A change in the mayor could potentially disrupt the high-rise development of the Seun 4 District, which has been led by the current administration. Therefore, it is important to examine both the progress of the trial and the key issues in the development plan.
Impact of Oh Se-hoon’s Appeal Verdict in the Myung Tae-kyun Case on the Seoul Mayor’s Position and the Seun 4 District Development Outlook
1. Current Status of the Appeal in the Oh Se-hoon and Myung Tae-kyun Case
The closing arguments for the appeal are scheduled for October 2, 2026, where the prosecution and the defense are expected to present their final opinions. The court will re-examine the facts, focusing on the process of commissioning the opinion polls and whether costs were paid by a third party. In the first instance, the court found that Mayor Oh was involved in and had costs paid for by supporters in five out of the ten opinion polls conducted by Myung Tae-kyun’s side. The appeal will focus on key issues such as whether Mayor Oh actually commissioned the polls and whether he issued instructions to the Deputy Mayor for Political Affairs. As no additional evidence has been submitted so far, the court’s judgment is highly anticipated.
The main points of contention in the appeal are whether Mayor Oh directly commissioned the polls and whether he instructed the payment of costs.
2. Possibility of Losing the Mayor’s Position and Legal Criteria
If a final conviction for violating the Political Funds Act results in a fine of 1 million won or more, the local government head loses their position. Mayor Oh Se-hoon was sentenced to a fine of 10 million won in the first instance, but this is not yet a final judgment. If he is found not guilty on appeal, he can retain his position; if a guilty verdict is finalized, he may lose his office. Therefore, the possibility of losing his position remains undetermined until the sentencing date is set after the closing arguments on October 2. Currently, as the appeal is in progress, he is still holding the office.
Legally, a finalized fine of 1 million won or more results in the loss of the mayor’s position.
3. Key Details of the Seun 4 District Development Plan
The Seun 4 District is located across from Jongmyo Shrine in Jongno-gu. The plan has been modified to relax existing height regulations, allowing for the construction of buildings up to approximately 141.9m along the Cheonggyecheon stream. The Seoul Metropolitan Government has conditionally passed the architectural safety impact assessment, advancing administrative procedures significantly. However, the distance from Jongmyo Shrine and the preservation of the historic landscape remain core issues. Additionally, the preservation plan for the Joseon Dynasty-era relics excavated within the district has not yet been finally resolved. If these conditions are met, full-scale implementation of the project is expected to become possible.
Relaxed height regulations allow for buildings up to approximately 141.9m, but preserving the Jongmyo landscape and relics remains a challenge.
4. Issues Regarding the World Heritage Impact Assessment for Jongmyo
The National Heritage Administration argues that high-rise buildings could alter the historic landscape viewed from Jongmyo Shrine and has requested a World Heritage Impact Assessment. The Seoul Metropolitan Government claims that the district is located approximately 180m from the Jongmyo boundary and is outside the statutory historic and cultural environment preservation zone. Both sides have held several practical consultations, and Mayor Oh and the head of the National Heritage Administration have met directly. However, as the review of the relic preservation plan has been suspended, the situation has arisen where the project implementation plan must be reconsidered. Ultimately, a point of coordination is needed between protecting the Jongmyo landscape and the necessity of development.
Whether a World Heritage Impact Assessment is conducted is a key variable in the project’s progress.
5. Ripple Effects of the Trial Outcome on the Seun 4 District Project
If Mayor Oh Se-hoon loses his position, the leadership driving the Seun 4 District project will disappear, potentially weakening administrative momentum. Since the urban redevelopment project involves multiple agencies such as the Seoul Metropolitan Government, Jongno-gu, and SH, a leadership vacuum is highly likely to cause delays in decision-making. Conversely, if he retains his position, the current policies of regulatory relaxation and height adjustment are likely to continue. However, regardless of the trial’s outcome, the World Heritage Impact Assessment for Jongmyo and the issue of relic preservation must be resolved separately. Therefore, monitoring both the trial and the development discussions simultaneously is a realistic approach.
Whether the mayor retains his position can directly impact the administrative momentum of the Seun 4 District project.
6. Next Steps and Checklist for Readers
Check the results of the appeal closing arguments on October 2 through news or official reports. Once the sentencing date is announced, pay close attention to the final verdict on that date. Simultaneously, check the progress of the World Heritage Impact Assessment for the Seun 4 District on the National Heritage Administration’s website or Seoul Metropolitan Government announcements. It is also a good idea to request the latest materials regarding the preservation plan for excavated relics from the Urban Redevelopment Division of Jongno-gu Office. By synthesizing this information, you can more accurately predict Mayor Oh’s future and the direction of the development plan.
You must monitor both the appeal outcome and the progress of the World Heritage Impact Assessment simultaneously.