Justice Minister Nominee Kim Seung-won Denies Illegal COVID-19 Lobbying Allegations

Justice Minister nominee Kim Seung-won denied allegations on Monday that he engaged in illegal lobbying for a COVID-19 treatment in 2021. Kim, a two-term lawmaker, is accused of unlawful solicitation for allegedly asking the then food and drug safety minister to accelerate the clinical trial approval of a medication at the request of a broker. While denying any illegal activity, Kim acknowledged that he should have been more careful in how he conveyed the request.

Kim stated that his call to the food and drug safety minister was intended to prevent the drug from being unfairly delayed during a period when COVID-19 treatments were being fast-tracked. He further noted that prosecutors previously deferred his indictment after determining that the request could not be definitively found as illegal solicitation. According to Kim, the investigation concluded that there was no unlawful solicitation or distortion of a fair review, and no public officials connected to the case were charged.

The nominee faces increasing pressure following the release of alleged recordings between himself and a broker by independent Rep. Han Dong-hoon. Kim has responded by accusing Han of a politically motivated attack and leaking investigative material. He has questioned how Han obtained the recordings and demanded that the representative appear at his confirmation hearing.