Recording says Kim Seung-won responded to drug-approval request, “Stuck at the director level? Got it”

A recording has emerged in which Justice Minister nominee Kim Seung-won appears to respond, “Stuck at the director level? Got it,” after an acquaintance asked him to help with approval for a COVID-19 treatment clinical trial.

Independent lawmaker Han Dong-hoon released the transcript on the 6th. According to the recording, the acquaintance, identified by the surname Yang, told Kim on October 12, 2021, that officials had made contact but the application was not moving beyond the responsible department director.

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Stuck at the director level? Got it.

Kim then sent a text message to former Food and Drug Safety Minister Kim Kang-lip, asking him to help the working-level officials process the matter more quickly. The former minister’s secretary subsequently sent a message to the responsible department director, saying that Kim Seung-won had sent a separate text and that the minister had asked the office to ensure that similar comments did not arise again.

Kim’s side rejected the suggestion that the exchange showed improper pressure. It said the recording had been cut before and after the relevant remarks, turning the request into something it was not. The transcript and the accompanying messages have nevertheless drawn attention to how the nominee used contacts at the food and drug regulator while the trial approval was under review.

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I ask that the working-level officials be able to process it a little more quickly.