Han Dong-hoon Releases Another Call in Alleged Lobbying Case, While Democratic Party Demands Source of Recording

Han Dong-hoon, an independent lawmaker, has released another recording in the controversy over alleged lobbying by Justice Minister nominee Kim Seung-won for approval of a COVID-19 treatment trial.

Han published two recordings on Facebook of a call between Kim and broker Yang, made on Oct. 12, 2021. In one exchange, Yang said officials had been making contact but that the matter “does not get past the department director.” Kim replied, “It is blocked at the department director level? I understand.”

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The officials in charge are making contact, but they say it does not get past the department director.

Han also released a text message sent by an aide to Kim Kang-lip, who was then head of the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, to the ministry's clinical policy director. The message said, “Director, lawmaker Kim Seung-won sent a separate text message. The minister said he would look into it, but asked that this not come up from them again.”

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It is blocked at the department director level? I understand.

Han argued that Kim, acting at Yang's request, had lobbied Kim Kang-lip, who then passed the request to ministry officials rather than ignoring it. Han described it as a successful lobbying effort that reached working-level staff.

Kim had previously faced an investigation over allegations that he asked Kim Kang-lip to expedite approval of GenNCell's Phase 2 and 3 clinical trial plan for a COVID-19 treatment. The ministry approved the plan on Oct. 26, 2021. Prosecutors investigated the allegations in 2024 and granted Kim a suspension of indictment, a disposition that recognizes criminal suspicion but closes the case without trial when prosecutors consider the matter insufficiently serious. Unlike a decision of no suspicion, it can allow prosecutors to reopen an investigation.

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The nominee, acting on broker Yang's commission, lobbied then-minister Kim Kang-lip, and Kim Kang-lip did not simply ignore it but actually passed Kim Seung-won's lobbying to the relevant ministry officials.

The Democratic Party demanded that Han disclose how he obtained the recordings. Spokesperson Cho Gye-won called the unlawful acquisition of recordings or investigative materials a clear crime and asked Han to apologize if the materials had been obtained illegally. The National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee plans to hold Kim's confirmation hearing on the 15th.

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If there was illegality in how the recording was obtained or leaked, it is clearly a crime.