This is a post uploaded by independent lawmaker Han Dong-hoon on his social media this morning.
Targeting Justice Minister Nominee Kim Seung-won, he asked, "Is it true that you happened to run into a person named Yang around February 2022?" He then posted what he claimed to be a phone transcript of a conversation between Nominee Kim and Yang on February 9, 2022.
According to the post, Nominee Kim said, "My brother, tears are welling up in my eyes just because I want to see you," to which Yang responded, "Bro, I'll run over right now. Where are you?"
In a second phone call on the same day, Nominee Kim reportedly said, "It's a pity if we can only see each other for 20 or 30 minutes," and Yang answered, "It's not a pity, I'm bringing a bunch of stuff with me so just stay put."
Previously, Nominee Kim's confirmation hearing preparation team explained regarding a photo taken with Yang and a warrant judge that they had "run into each other by chance." Lawmaker Han cited these transcript contents and criticized it as a "blatant lie."
He also asked, "What was the bunch of stuff you received from Yang?"
Lawmaker Han further uploaded another post containing a transcript of what he claimed was a phone call Yang had with another person in October 2021.
Regarding allegations of lobbying for new drug approval, Yang reportedly said, "Seung-won oppa is the one who clears approvals," adding, "He talked to the Minister of Food and Drug Safety, and said today, 'Shall I push it to the Ministry of Health and Welfare? The donation is only 5 million won, so you need to do well. Everything is moving because of you.'"
Regarding this, Lawmaker Han added, "The intent was that since he only gets 5 million won in donations, Yang should pocket plenty of lobbying rewards."
Previously, Nominee Kim was investigated on charges of asking the then-Minister of Food and Drug Safety to approve a treatment's clinical trials in October 2021 at Yang's request. However, prosecutors issued a suspension of indictment for Nominee Kim in December 2024, stating that there was no direct exchange of money and valuables and that it was difficult to conclude the request was illegal.
Since then, controversy has grown as a photo taken together by Nominee Kim, Yang, and a warrant judge in February 2022 came to light.
(Reported by Jeong Gyeong-yun | Video by Na Hong-hee | Graphics by Yang Hye-min | Produced by SBS Digital News)
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