“Your Face Is a Weapon,” “You Viper”: Chaotic Confirmation Hearing Ends in Tears for Kim Seung-won Over Family Allegations

[Financial News] The National Assembly confirmation hearing for Kim Seung-won, nominee for Minister of Justice, ended shortly before midnight after a fierce clash between the ruling and opposition parties over allegations of a request for favors involving a new drug and controversy over preferential treatment for his family. Held without a single witness, the hearing was marred throughout by disruptions, including a suspension of the session, as lawmakers traded harsh insults such as “devil” and “viper.”
The confirmation hearing for Kim, held by the Legislation and Judiciary Committee at the National Assembly on the 15th, began at 10 a.m. and concluded at 11:58 p.m., shortly before midnight, after nearly 14 hours of wrangling.

The central issue at the hearing was an allegation that Kim, in 2021, asked the head of the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety to approve Genencell’s clinical trial for a COVID-19 treatment at the request of a broker identified by the surname Yang.
Kwak Kyu-taek of the People Power Party launched a direct attack, saying, “The transcript mentions Democratic Party figures including Song Young-gil, Choi Jae-sung and Shin Hyun-young. This is the ‘Democratic Party poison-drug gate,’ which requires a parliamentary investigation and a special counsel.” Yoon Sang-hyun, also of the People Power Party, brought up allegations that Genencell’s stock price had been manipulated, calling it a typical case of “solicitation when others do it, but passing along a civil complaint when I do it.”
In response, Kim drew a line under the issue of alleged manipulation of Genencell’s animal testing, saying, “I studied the humanities. I don’t know anything about the treatment’s efficacy or anything like that.”
The Democratic Party of Korea mounted a vigorous defense. Kim Han-kyu argued, “This falls under conveying a third party’s grievance for the public interest, which is an exception under the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act,” while Kim Dong-ah countered, “There is no evidence that money changed hands, and the case was already closed five years ago by prosecutors under the Yoon Suk Yeol administration.” Lee Sung-yoon, in particular, strongly criticized independent lawmaker Han Dong-hoon, who had led the allegations, saying they involved “demonization through the prosecution’s leaking of alleged criminal facts” and adding, “It reminds me of the nightmare of former President Roh Moo-hyun’s ‘watch by the rice paddy’ scandal.”


Allegations of preferential treatment involving the Korea Child Development Social Cooperative, where Kim’s spouse and children work, also came under scrutiny.
Joo Jin-woo of the People Power Party criticized what he called “an improper structure in which family members receive salaries from an organization whose benefits are concentrated on only 20 students,” adding that they had “siphoned off taxpayers’ money.” He then released a transcript showing that Kim’s spouse and a welfare team leader at Suwon City Hall had frequently spoken by phone, raising suspicions of collusion.
Kim Nam-hee of the Democratic Party of Korea strongly objected, saying, “Joo’s remarks are hateful expressions that misrepresent a welfare institution for people with developmental disabilities as an illegal organization.” While explaining the allegations, Kim wiped away tears and said, “It is not a family cooperative. It is heartbreaking that my son, who even graduated from Yonsei University, followed his mother’s wishes and decided to care for children with developmental disabilities.”


Tensions between lawmakers from the ruling and opposition parties reached a peak throughout the hearing. Park Kyun-taek of the Democratic Party of Korea and Kim Tae-gyu of the People Power Party exchanged personal attacks, including “That is not a normal face” and “Your face is a weapon.”
During the afternoon session, Democratic Party lawmaker Park Ji-won criticized Joo Jin-woo, saying, “Yoon Suk Yeol, Han Dong-hoon and Joo Jin-woo are the three bad brothers of the prosecution and people like vipers.” Joo and other ruling-party lawmakers strongly protested, shouting, “That’s enough,” and the hearing was eventually suspended temporarily by decision of Seo Young-kyo, chair of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee.


Near the end of the hearing, allegations emerged that Kim’s aides had secretly filmed Joo Jin-woo from behind while recording his questions and preparations, sparking controversy over alleged surveillance of the opposition. Kim’s team immediately apologized and sought to contain the fallout, saying, “It was the immature and inappropriate conduct of a young employee in their 20s.”
In his closing remarks shortly before midnight, Kim pledged, “I will correct the shortcomings you have pointed out,” adding, “If I am given the opportunity to serve as Minister of Justice, I will complete a criminal justice system that gives the public peace of mind and earns their trust.”


[email protected] Park Ji-hyun Reporter