Kim Eui-gyeom: "Kim Seung-won's 'liberal-arts remark' could sound like an attempt to evade responsibility"

[Financial News] Kim Eui-gyeom, a Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker and the ruling party’s secretary on the Legislation and Judiciary Committee of the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea, said Kim Seung-won’s so-called “liberal-arts remark” was “a little inappropriate.”
Kim Eui-gyeom acknowledged that the expression could sound like an attempt to evade responsibility, but said he did not believe there was anything problematic about Kim Seung-won’s request concerning GENENCELL. He also assessed that the confirmation hearing had revealed no new flaws or shortcomings.
Appearing on MBC radio’s “Kim Jong-bae’s Focus” on the 16th, Kim Eui-gyeom said of Kim Seung-won’s “liberal-arts remark,” “The phrase ‘liberal arts’ was a little inappropriate,” adding, “It could sound somewhat like an attempt to evade responsibility.”
However, he explained, “It is not as though everyone in the sciences knows everything,” adding, “This is an area that can be judged only by experts at the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety.”
Kim Eui-gyeom said, “Without expertise, one does not have the ability to determine whether the relevant materials are genuine,” explaining that Kim Seung-won appeared to have used the term “liberal arts” while clarifying that he had merely asked the relevant procedures to be followed.
He also said it was difficult to view Kim Seung-won’s request concerning GENENCELL as unlawful. Kim Eui-gyeom stated, “The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety was not harmed in the slightest,” adding, “In that regard, I do not think what Kim Seung-won asked for violated the law or was problematic.”
Assessing the confirmation hearing as a whole, he said no new facts had emerged. Kim Eui-gyeom said, “Before the hearing, I was worried that new facts I did not know about might come out, but that did not happen,” adding, “The trailer was so intense and sensational that the main feature felt relatively bland and boring.”
He also gave a positive assessment of Kim Seung-won’s conduct during the hearing. Kim Eui-gyeom said, “He appeared much calmer and more composed than he had in media reports,” adding, “No new flaws or shortcomings emerged at the hearing. Rather, he showed himself to be more composed and candid, which is why I believe he should be appointed.”
Kim Eui-gyeom said of the confirmation hearing, “I have no doubt about the conclusion that he is qualified.”
Responding to the People Power Party’s criticism of the GENENCELL treatment as “poison,” Kim Eui-gyeom offered a rebuttal. “I am not an expert, so I cannot know the exact details,” he said, “but isn’t something poison when the amount is large and medicine when the amount is small?”


[email protected] Han Seung-gon Reporter