Police Question Complainants in "Kim Seungwon Lobbying Allegation"... Reinvestigation at a Crossroads (Comprehensive)

Lee Jongbae to be questioned on the 11th, Seminwi on the 12th

Allegations of COVID-19 new drug lobbying involving Genencell

The police are summoning complainants one after another as they review the possibility of reopening the investigation into the alleged "COVID-19 drug lobbying" case involving Kim Seungwon, nominee for Minister of Justice.

Kim Seungwon, Minister of Justice nominee, answers reporters' questions as he arrives at the confirmation hearing preparation office in Jongno-gu, Seoul on the 7th. Photo by Jo Yongjun

According to the police and other sources on September 10, the Yeongdeungpo Police Station in Seoul is scheduled to summon Lee Jongbae, former Seoul city council member, as a complainant for questioning at around 10:30 a.m. on September 11. Subsequently, personnel from the civil organization Semin Minsheng Countermeasure Committee (Seminwi) will be summoned for questioning at 10 a.m. on September 12.

Former council member Lee recently filed a complaint against nominee Kim and former Korea Food and Drug Administration chief Kim Kanglip, accusing them of violating the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act, abuse of authority, and dereliction of duty. Seminwi also filed a complaint against nominee Kim on charges of violating the Political Funds Act and the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act, as well as mediation bribery. The suspicions arose after allegations surfaced that nominee Kim, in 2021, used broker Yang to solicit Genencell's request and exerted improper influence on former chief Kim to accelerate the approval process for clinical trials of a COVID-19 treatment.

Former council member Lee argues that there is a need to investigate whether nominee Kim, taking advantage of his position as a National Assembly member, relayed a company's request regarding a new drug clinical trial. He also insists that authorities should look into whether there were promises to receive sponsorship money in return.

The allegations went through a prosecution investigation in December 2024, resulting in a deferred indictment. A deferred indictment is a type of non-prosecution disposition in which, even if there is evidence of a crime, the case is not brought to trial, taking various circumstances into account. Unlike a final court ruling, the same matter can be reinvestigated.

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