"Seung-won Oppa Will Push It": Assigned to Budget Committee After Broker's Solicitation, Sought 60 Billion Won Increase in MOHW Budget

[Financial News] Kim Seung-won, the nominee for minister of the Ministry of Justice, was assigned to the National Assembly's Special Committee on Budget and Accounts shortly after making a solicitation-related contact concerning approval of a clinical trial for a COVID-19 drug. He subsequently took part in reviewing the budgets of the Ministry of Health and Welfare and the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety.

According to a JoongAng Ilbo report on the 8th, Kim joined the budget committee on November 1, 2021. That was six days after the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety approved GENENCELL's clinical trial plan.
Before the approval, Kim reportedly contacted Kim Gang-lip, then head of the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, asking him to expedite the administrative processing. Four days after taking office on the committee, Kim faced Kim Gang-lip, in his capacity as the head of an agency subject to oversight, during a comprehensive policy inquiry by the committee.
Kim also participated in reviewing the MOHW budget and was found to have sought an increase in the range of 60 billion won. Materials from the budget adjustment subcommittee's review in November 2021 reportedly included requests for increases in childcare fees for infants and young children, measures to strengthen the public role of regional hub hospitals, and emergency welfare assistance.
The People Power Party argues that it was improper for Kim to assume authority over increasing or cutting ministry budgets immediately after making the solicitation. The party's position is that ministries under review would find it difficult to raise objections before a budget committee member.
The opposition is focusing on call recordings involving Yang, the broker. In a recording dated October 17, 2021, released by independent lawmaker Han Dong-hoon, Yang told an acquaintance, "When it comes to getting licenses and approvals cleared, that's Seung-won oppa," and added, "Seung-won oppa talked to the head of the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, and today he also said, 'Should I push it with the Ministry of Health and Welfare? The contribution is only 5 million won, so you need to do well. Everything is moving because of you.'"
Yang reportedly continued exchanging messages with Kim after Kim joined the budget committee. JoongAng Ilbo reported that the indictment of Yang, who was charged in 2024 with promising to provide a bribe, stated that Yang asked for a contribution account in December of that year and Kim provided the account for his supporters' association. No actual payment was made, however.

Kim told reporters on the 7th that the allegations were "a typical example of the prosecution's cabinet politics" and questioned how the investigative materials had been obtained. He also argued that Han should appear as a witness at the confirmation hearing and take responsibility for his remarks.
A public-interest whistleblower identified as A also came forward. A, who submitted a public-interest report to the Seoul Western District Court in February, told Munhwa Ilbo in an interview on the 7th that GENENCELL's new drug was a treatment for shingles, not COVID-19. A reportedly previously worked for one of Yang's cosmetics companies.
Kim's confirmation hearing is scheduled to take place this month.
[email protected] Seong Min-seo Reporter