Whistleblower in Kim Seung-won’s alleged Genencell lobbying case seeks reinvestigation

[Financial News] A public-interest whistleblower who reported allegations that Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker Kim Seung-won sought favors over clinical trials of Genencell’s COVID-19 treatment has filed a petition with the Prosecution Office asking it to reinvestigate the case in which Kim was granted a suspension of indictment.
According to legal sources and others on the 13th, whistleblower A filed a petition on the 28th of last month with the Seoul Western District Prosecution Office (then the Seoul Western District Prosecutors’ Office), calling for a reinvestigation and indictment in the case involving allegations that lawmaker Kim was promised a bribe in connection with an intermediary’s brokerage.
In the petition, A cited media reports that Genencell’s COVID-19 treatment had actually been administered to 93 people during clinical trials, and argued that it should be examined whether the seriousness of the consequences of the alleged offense had been adequately considered when the suspension of indictment was granted.
A also raised concerns about fairness, saying, “Mr. Yang, who promised the bribe, has been indicted and is standing trial, while the suspect—a public official who received that promise—was granted a suspension of indictment.” A also asked authorities to check whether the statute of limitations had expired and whether they had investigated the additional allegations of abuse of authority and bribery of a third party that A had reported.
Kim was investigated on suspicion that in October 2021, at the request of broker Yang and others, he asked Kim Kang-rip, then minister of food and drug safety, to expedite approval of Genencell’s clinical trial of its COVID-19 treatment.
Prosecutors acknowledged the allegation that Kim had promised to accept 5 million won in political contributions in exchange for the favor, but granted him a suspension of indictment in December 2024, citing, among other reasons, that no money or valuables had actually changed hands and it was difficult to conclude that the request itself was unlawful.
Because a suspension of indictment is not a final judgment, the case can be reinvestigated. However, since the Prosecution Office was launched on the 2nd, direct investigations by prosecutors have been restricted, and they may investigate only unavoidable pre-existing cases until December 30. Without new evidence, overturning the original decision is expected to be difficult.
Meanwhile, A also filed a National Assembly public-consent petition that day, calling for an amendment to the PUBLIC INTEREST WHISTLEBLOWER PROTECTION ACT to extend protections and immunity equivalent to those afforded to public-interest whistleblowers to people who disclose case details for the public good. The petition was later withdrawn.
[email protected] Choi Seung-han Reporter