Justice Minister Nominee Kim Seungwon “Deeply Regrets” Drunk Driving Conviction...Denies COVID-19 Drug Lobbying Allegations

Fined 700,000 Won in 2008 While Working as a Lawyer

On MFDS Lobbying Allegation: "I Only Relayed a Grievance Complaint"

Kim Seungwon, the nominee for Minister of Justice, addressed the fact that he had previously received a fine for drunk driving, stating, "I deeply regret my actions and sincerely apologize to the public."

Kim Seungwon, the nominee for Minister of Justice, is speaking as he arrives at the confirmation hearing preparation office set up at Jeokseon Hyundai Building in Jongno-gu, Seoul on the 3rd. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

On September 4, through the confirmation hearing preparation team, Kim said, "Drunk driving is a wrongdoing that cannot be justified for any reason," and added, "As a lawyer at the time, I should have acted with even greater discipline."

Kim served as a judge at Suwon District Court from February 2006 to February 2008, and after becoming a lawyer, he was fined 700,000 won by the Suwon District Court in July 2008 for drunk driving charges.

Kim once again clarified allegations that he lobbied the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety during the development process of a COVID-19 treatment. He explained that, in 2021, he simply contacted the head of the ministry to deliver a complaint that the clinical trial procedures for a domestic SME could be improperly delayed, and said, "I did not request approval of the treatment, priority review, or the easing of review standards."

He further stated that, after passing the response from the ministry’s head to the complainant, he did not confirm the approval status, was not involved in the review process, and did not have any separate contact with ministry staff.

In 2021, Kim was investigated on suspicion that he had requested clinical trial approval from then-Commissioner Kim Gang-lip at the request of Genencell, a COVID-19 treatment developer, through broker Yang. In December 2024, prosecutors handed down a suspension of indictment for Kim, and in May last year, Kim filed a constitutional appeal seeking to overturn the suspension of indictment at the Constitutional Court.

He also addressed allegations that he had received political donations or money in exchange for delivering the complaint, stating, "I did not ask for or promise to receive political donations or money as a reward for passing on the complaint." He explained that no donations, money, or entertainment had been provided in reality.

Regarding allegations that he had close ties with the judge who oversaw the arrest warrant review of others implicated in the case, Kim countered, "At a private gathering disclosed in February 2022, I only happened to run into Judge Jeong and Yang by chance and have had no further meetings or contact since." Kim emphasized, "I have never contacted or asked Judge Jeong in relation to this case, nor did I have any involvement in the warrant review process."

Kim added, "About 11 prosecutors were involved in the investigation into this case for almost three years under the Yoon Suk-yeol administration," and asserted, "There has been no objective evidence found to prove lobbying for approval of the treatment, preferential treatment, the exchange of money or valuables, or any quid pro quo relationship."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.