Kim Seung-won: "I never made improper requests to the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety"... Han Dong-hoon, Cabinet Politics (Roundup)

[Financial News] Justice Minister nominee Kim Seung-won clarified that he never made any improper requests to Kim Gang-lip, the then Minister of Food and Drug Safety, regarding the 'COVID-19 new drug lobbying allegations' surrounding him.
Meeting with reporters on the 7th as he arrived at the confirmation hearing preparation office in the Jeokseon Hyundai Building in Jongno District, Seoul, Nominee Kim stated, "I never made any improper requests to the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, nor was the Ministry's review conducted unfairly as a result." However, he acknowledged that "I should have been more careful in conveying the petition."
He said, "This fact is clearly stated in the prosecution's non-indictment," adding, "The period when the investigation was underway was when then-Minister of Justice Han Dong-hoon mobilized a total of about 10 prosecutors over a period of about three years to thoroughly investigate."
Candidate Kim further stated, "Rep. Han claimed that I received a suspended indictment this time due to external pressure," and asked in return, "At the time of the suspended indictment, it was the Yoon Suk Yeol administration and Prosecutor General Shim Woo-jung; how could I, merely a first-term lawmaker of the Democratic Party, have exerted pressure on the prosecution to secure a suspended indictment?"
Nominee Kim also pushed back against the content and manner in which Rep. Han raised allegations, calling it "a typical example of the prosecution's cabinet politics." He stated, "A constitutional appeal regarding the suspension of indictment was filed last May, and while the results should have been calmly reviewed, Han Dong-hoon is launching a political offensive by leaking details of the investigation to the media little by little." He then asked, "Where were the aforementioned investigation materials submitted from? Were they obtained legally?"
He added, "Representative Han must appear as a witness at the hearing this time and take responsibility for what he said," and demanded, "Attend the hearing and prove the facts regarding the suspension of my indictment being due to external pressure."
Candidate Kim is suspected of having solicited then-Director Kim Gang-lip in 2021 to secure approval for a clinical trial of a COVID-19 treatment by the pharmaceutical company GENENCELL, at the request of a broker surnamed Yang. He received a suspended indictment from the prosecution in connection with this case.

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