Kim Seungwon 'New Drug Lobbying' Broker Sentencing Postponed to November: "Will Review Related Appeal Ruling"

Court: "Trial Conclusion Considered, but Additional Hearing Scheduled"

Yang Requests Personal Protection... Remains Silent to Press Questions

The prosecution's sentencing recommendations for broker Yang and Genencell founder Kang, who have been put on trial for allegedly lobbying Kim Seungwon, the Minister of Justice nominee, to secure clinical trial approval for a COVID-19 therapeutic, have been postponed to November.

Broker Yang, suspected of requesting preferential treatment for COVID-19 new drugs from Kim Seungwon, Minister of Justice nominee, is appearing at the Seoul Western District Court in Mapo-gu, Seoul, on the 15th. Photo by Yonhap News

On September 15, Judge Seong Jungyu of the 10th Criminal Division of the Seoul Western District Court held a public hearing for Yang and Kang, who have been indicted without detention on charges of promising bribes and violating the Specific Economic Crimes Law by intermediary acceptance.

Judge Seong had initially planned to hold the final hearing and conclude the trial on this day but decided to finish the proceedings only after reviewing the appellate court's decision on another case involving Kang. In a final hearing, prosecutors typically announce their recommended sentence to the court, after which the defendant makes their final statement and the arguments are concluded.

Judge Seong remarked, "I did consider closing the trial today, but since the ruling for Kang's appellate case has been postponed, I would like to review it as well," adding, "We will set another court date. During that period, both the defendants and the prosecution should formulate their final opinions after reflecting the Seoul High Court's judgment regarding Kang."

The case mentioned refers to Kang being sentenced to three years in prison, suspended for five years by the first-instance court, for submitting false or omitted documents to the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety during the process of obtaining clinical trial approval for Genencell's COVID-19 treatment. Kang was convicted on charges including obstruction of the execution of official duties by fraudulent means and violation of the Pharmaceutical Affairs Act, and is currently appealing the verdict before the 7th Criminal Division of the Seoul High Court (presiding judge Koo Hoe-geun).

Judge Seong previously stated that the aforementioned case is partly related to the current one, hence the need to confirm the outcome of the appellate trial. The appellate ruling, originally scheduled for an earlier date, has been put off until the end of this month. Accordingly, Judge Seong plans to open the next hearing at 4 p.m. on November 12, during which an evidentiary review for the documents submitted by the prosecution will be conducted, followed by Kang's witness examination, and the arguments will then be concluded.

Yang and others are on trial for allegedly lobbying then-lawmaker Kim, the Minister of Justice nominee, in October 2021 for clinical trial approval of Genencell's COVID-19 treatment and promising a donation of 5 million won in return.

Previously, Yang requested a schedule change once, but the court did not accept the request. On September 14, one day before the hearing, Yang requested personal protection from the court. As a result, at approximately 4:03 p.m. on the day of the trial, Yang appeared in court under the protection of court security staff.

Yang did not answer reporters' questions about whether he admits to lobbying Kim with improper requests, why he called Kim "oppa," or his response to Kim's claim that the matter was a public petition and not a lobbying attempt, instead heading straight into the courtroom.

Kang also arrived at the court at around 4:14 p.m. Kang likewise kept silent and entered the courtroom, declining to answer questions from reporters about why he intended to send 5 million won, whether he tried to provide benefits in other ways after not being able to transfer the money, or whether his stance that he never met Kim remains unchanged.

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