Kim Seungwon Denies Lobbying in Han Donghoon Recordings: "Selective Editing, No Pressure for Approval"

"It Was Only to Clarify Reasons for Review Delays... No Demands for Unconditional Approval or Relaxed Standards"


Prosecutors in 2024 Also Stated, "The Review Followed Procedures Without Violating Rules"... Alleged Promise of Sponsorship Remains a Separate Issue

On September 6, the camp for Kim Seungwon, nominee for Minister of Justice, rebutted the recently released call recordings by independent lawmaker Han Donghoon regarding alleged lobbying for COVID-19 treatment clinical trials. The camp stated, "By selectively editing the recordings, Han is turning a simple inquiry into undue pressure for approval."

Kim Seungwon, nominee for Minister of Justice, is heading to the confirmation hearing preparation office set up in Jeokseon Hyundai Building, Jongno-gu, Seoul on the 3rd, addressing the press with his determination. Photo by Yonhap News

Kim’s confirmation hearing preparation team released explanatory materials the same day, asserting, "What the nominee requested from the Commissioner of the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety was not approval of the clinical trial itself, but a review and a status report on the assessment process." They added, "There is no mention anywhere in the recordings demanding unconditional approval, relaxing review standards, or omitting procedures."

Earlier that day, Assemblyman Han published on Facebook two recorded phone calls from October 12, 2021, between Kim and a broker surnamed Yang. In the recordings, Kim is heard saying, "I’ll ask the Commissioner to personally look into this and update me," to which Yang replied, "Officials are reaching out, but the matter doesn’t move past the director level." Kim responded, "It’s blocked at the director level? Understood." Han claimed that this exchange showed Kim’s requests successfully reaching working-level officials at the Ministry, calling it a "successful lobbying effort."

Kim’s side countered Han’s claim, arguing that he omitted the earlier context of the conversation. According to the preparation team, at the time, Yang had said, "I don’t mind if it’s delayed, but we need to know the reason, so please find out," explaining that the review was delayed due to officials avoiding responsibility. Kim responded, "Okay, I get it. It’s also related to potential capital outflow."

The preparation team insisted that the intent was not to pressure the division director to approve the application, but to clarify the reasons for the delay. They also stated that when Kangrip Kim, then-Commissioner of the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, replied, "I have instructed the working staff to look into it properly," it was simply part of the usual civil complaint process.

The team further stressed that Kim never directly contacted any working-level official or division director at the ministry. During the investigation, staff members at the ministry also testified that they had never received special instructions or submitted any extraordinary reports, and both the former commissioner and related staff were all cleared of any charges.

The prosecutors at the time also did not definitively conclude there was any preferential treatment in the review process. According to the non-indictment decision document from Seoul Western District Prosecutors’ Office in December 2024, the prosecution found, "It is difficult to categorically rule that the solicitation itself was illegal," regarding Kim’s request for expedited processing.

Kim Seungwon, the nominee for Minister of Justice, stopped his steps as he was about to leave after responding to questions from the press while arriving at the hearing preparation office set up in Jeokseon Hyundai Building, Jongno-gu, Seoul on the 3rd. Photo by Yonhap News

The ministry confirmed that no rules or manuals were unusually violated following the request and that "the review was conducted according to standard procedures." The Seoul Western District Court also judged that it was difficult to immediately conclude that Kim’s request sought expedited or preferential treatment or omission of review steps compared to other companies.

There is also ongoing debate regarding the approval period for the clinical trial. Han Jia, a lawmaker from the People Power Party, argued that Genencell received approval for their clinical trial plan only 33 days after submission, shorter than the average of 71.6 days for COVID-19 therapeutics based on new substances between 2020 and 2022.

In response, Kim’s team countered that the 33 days cited by Han included the period during which the company prepared supplementary materials, and that the ministry actually reviewed the documents for only 11 days. Under the 'GO·Fast Track Program' for COVID-19 treatments at the time, the target review period for new substance clinical trials was within 15 days, and Genencell’s actual review period of 11 days was longer than the average 8.8 days for comparable new substances.

Genencell applied for approval of the clinical trial plan on September 23, 2021, and the ministry requested additional documents on September 30. On October 12, when Kim contacted the former commissioner, Genencell submitted its final supplemental data on October 18, underwent an expert advisory meeting on October 22, and was granted approval on October 26.

Separate from the clinical trial lobbying allegations, there remain suspicions regarding promises of donations. In the non-indictment notice, prosecutors found that Kim had agreed to receive a sponsorship of 5 million won as a reward for brokering, but since no money actually changed hands and in light of the amount in question, they suspended indictment. Kim has filed a constitutional appeal against that decision.

Kim is scheduled to personally answer questions about the allegations on September 7 at 9:30 a.m. as he arrives at the confirmation hearing preparation office in Jongno-gu, Seoul. This will be his first time publicly addressing the various accusations—including lobbying for new drugs and personal acquaintance with brokers—since his first appearance at the office on September 3.

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