Minister nominee Kim Seung-won counters Han Dong-hoon with prosecution leak allegations, says 'I'm not a science major' on drug claims
Justice Minister nominee Kim Seung-won argued at his National Assembly confirmation hearing on the 15th that the allegations raised by independent lawmaker Han Dong-hoon were based on the leak of non-public prosecution materials. Kim claimed that "some of the materials former Justice Minister Han Dong-hoon released to the media go beyond the scope of the investigation involving me." He implied that materials that were neither subject to search and seizure, or that should have remained with prosecutors even if they had been, were leaked externally.
Responding to a question from Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Yong-min, Kim emphasized, "I believe distorting and cherry-picking such materials to mislead public opinion, as former Minister Han did, is a great enemy of democracy." Regarding suggestions that materials could remain on the prosecution service's D-NET (digital evidence management server), Kim took the position that a thorough inspection and fact-finding investigation is needed. When Democratic Party lawmaker Park Ji-won likened cases kept in prosecutors' personal cabinets to 'keeping private spoils' and urged accountability, Kim answered, "I will inspect whether materials that should not be in prosecutors' cabinets are being selectively handled, or whether anyone is leaking materials for political purposes or using them to solicit legal business." His position is that it must be revealed how internal prosecution materials made their way to former Minister Han.
On allegations of manipulated animal testing at Genexine, Kim explained in response to a question from People Power Party lawmaker Kim Min-jeon that "the efficacy of the treatment cannot be known" and that "I was not involved." His reasoning was that the prosecution under the Yoon Suk-yeol government decided not to indict, finding no improper solicitation and that the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety's procedures were fair. On questions about lobbying allegations, he answered, "Foreign-made treatments sell for 700,000 to 800,000 won on the market, and I have some regrets about whether I placed too much trust in claims that this drug could be supplied in the 100,000-won range." He explained that there was a sense of urgency at the time, as national resources were being poured into COVID-19 treatment and vaccine development. He also said that if confirmed as minister, he would meet the victims of the Genexine stock manipulation scheme first.
Regarding the withdrawal of criminal charges against President Lee Jae-myung, he drew a line, contrary to the stance he took as a National Assembly member. He reiterated that he has no intention of directing the withdrawal of charges through the prosecutor general.
Monday's hearing was suspended several times and concluded amid clashes over the circumstances of the prosecution document leak and the veracity of the clinical trial solicitation allegations. The impact of Kim's call for an inspection into the document leak and his explanations of the allegations on his nomination review will be seen in subsequent procedures.
