Kim Seung-won faces lobbying allegations amid Justice Minister nomination

Kim Seung-won Han Dong-hoon clinical trial solicitation Ministry of Justice nominee political controversy

Kim Seung-won, the nominee for Minister of Justice, is facing intense scrutiny over allegations of soliciting improper assistance for the approval of a COVID-19 drug clinical trial. Independent lawmaker Han Dong-hoon has released several recordings and text messages, alleging that Kim engaged in successful lobbying with a broker and the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) in 2021.

Han claims the recordings prove Kim's relationship with the broker was not a chance encounter, as Kim had previously asserted. The released materials include conversations where Kim allegedly discussed ensuring the clinical trial process was handled quickly and messages from an MFDS secretary indicating that the Ministry head had instructed staff to look into Kim's request.

Kim Seung-won and his preparation team have denied all allegations of illegal solicitation. They argue that the communications were legitimate public interest inquiries regarding delays in the administrative process and that the MFDS conducted its review according to standard procedures. Kim noted that the prosecution previously issued a suspension of indictment in December 2024, concluding that while he promised a political donation, the solicitation itself was not clearly illegal given the pandemic context. Kim has challenged Han to prove the legality of how the investigative materials were obtained.

Entities

Genencell · Han Dong-hoon · Kim Seung-won · Ministry of Food and Drug Safety · Ministry of Justice

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[DISPUTED] Kim's team maintains that his meeting with the broker and a judge was a chance encounter at a private gathering. www.hidomin.com · www.kyeonggi.com
[● 6 SOURCES] Prosecutors issued a suspension of indictment for Kim, stating it is difficult to conclude the solicitation itself was illegal given the pandemic context. www.kyeonggi.com · www.kgnews.co.kr · www.seoul.co.kr · www.jnilbo.com
[● 3 SOURCES] Kim Seung-won told the broker he would handle the matter after being told the process was stuck at the division head level. www.hidomin.com
[● 4 SOURCES] During a second call in February 2022, the broker told Kim she was bringing a large amount of 'items' to him. www.hidomin.com · www.kyeonggi.com
[● 4 SOURCES] In February 2022, Kim Seung-won told the broker Yang that he missed her so much he was crying. www.hidomin.com · www.kyeonggi.com
[○ 1 SOURCE] Civil society groups have filed complaints against Kim for abuse of power and violations of the Anti-Corruption Act.
[● 7 SOURCES] A 2021 recording features the broker claiming Kim Seung-won was the one to resolve licensing issues. www.hidomin.com · www.kyeonggi.com · www.seoul.co.kr · www.sisajournal.com · www.sportalkorea.com
[DISPUTED] Kim Seung-won's claim that he met the broker by chance in February 2022 is a lie. www.hidomin.com
[● 7 SOURCES] A released recording shows Kim Seung-won responding to the broker's claim that a process was stuck at the division head level. www.hidomin.com · www.sisajournal.com · www.kgnews.co.kr · www.sportalkorea.com · www.seoul.co.kr
[● 4 SOURCES] Kim's team argues that the clinical trial approval process for Genencell was not unusually accelerated compared to other drugs. www.kgnews.co.kr · biz.heraldcorp.com · www.jnilbo.com
[DISPUTED] Han Dong-hoon claims Kim Seung-won's explanation of a chance encounter with the broker is a lie. www.hidomin.com · www.kyeonggi.com
[● 3 SOURCES] The prosecution issued a suspension of indictment for Kim Seung-won in December 2024. www.seoul.co.kr · www.jnilbo.com · www.kyeonggi.com