Kim Seung-won: “I Should Have Been More Careful Passing Along the Petition, and I Respect Businessman Yang”

Justice minister nominee Kim Seung-won rejected allegations surrounding a request to secure regulatory approval for a COVID-19 treatment trial and alleged involvement in stock manipulation, calling them “political attacks.”

Speaking on the 7th, Kim said he would explain the allegations in detail to the public. He acknowledged that he should have exercised greater caution when passing along the petition to the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, but firmly denied making an improper request or exerting outside pressure.

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I should have been more careful in passing along the petition, and I take that matter seriously.

Kim also criticized allegations raised by independent lawmaker Han Dong-hoon, describing them as “the epitome of prosecution-cabinet politics.” He said he would use the confirmation hearing to establish the facts clearly.

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There was no improper solicitation or outside pressure.

Kim said that during Han’s three-year tenure as minister, more than 10 prosecutors had investigated the matter. He argued that prosecutors had recognized there was no improper solicitation or distortion of the review process, and that the relevant food and drug safety agency chief and officials had all received decisions clearing them of charges.

The source excerpt ends as Kim responds to an allegation that the case had received a deferred prosecution decision because of outside pressure.

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The epitome of prosecution-cabinet politics.