Independent lawmaker Han Dong-hoon revealed text message exchanges today (September 7) between key broker Yang and a pharmaceutical company representative involving allegations of solicitation for clinical trial approval of a new drug by Justice Minister nominee Kim Seung-won.
Lawmaker Han posted on Facebook today, stating, "More 'Democratic Party Oppas' are coming out. The 'Oppas Poison Lobby Gate' was actually the 'Democratic Party Oppas Gate,'" while sharing the relevant text messages.
According to the released messages, pharmaceutical company representative Kang sent a message to Yang on October 8, 2021, saying, "IND (Investigational New Drug) approval needs to come out before the 19th. Let's meet up when you have a moment, even if it's not a meal."
In response, Yang replied, "Rep. Choi is coming to our office tomorrow at 1. Seung-won oppa says it needs to be finished because of the parliamentary audit, but I will push Rep. Choi. Rep. Song Young-gil is crafty, so you have to give him money to get him to move."
Rep. Choi's specific name was not mentioned.
Kang then requested, "Then when you see Rep. Choi, please ask him to ensure approval is granted that week, since we will submit all supplementary documents to the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety by Tuesday."
Yang mentioned, "I explained it to Seung-won oppa in the morning. I'm expecting about 1 billion won, but it might not work out so it could be around 800 million won invested; the only person I told numbers to giving an opportunity was Seung-won oppa. I checked two people and no one else was told, only lawmaker Kim. However, it's not a commission or anything like that, they said they would invest."
Lawmaker Han pointed out, "Since Lee Jae-myung's Democratic Party has decided to absurdly insist that the 'Oppas Poison Lobby' is a 'public interest' civil petition, I ask the public to look at the text messages and judge whether it is a genuine 'public interest' petition or a 'fraud mobilizing Democratic Party Oppas,'" adding, "Beyond Seung-won oppa, more Democratic Party Oppas are showing up. There is also mention of 'Rep. Choi,' 'Lawmaker Kim,' and 'Rep. Song Young-gil,' who criticized me by calling Yang's lobbying a 'good civil petition.'"
He continued, "Conversations appear to show that 'Rep. Choi' was also involved in the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety approval. It is also said that broker Yang told nominee Kim that Yang would make a profit of 800 million to 1 billion won once approved by the Ministry," emphasizing, "Disclosing the facts to prevent such a person from becoming South Korea's Minister of Justice is the true 'public interest.'"
Lawmaker Han also requested to be appointed as a member of the confirmation hearing committee for nominee Kim.
Meeting with reporters at the National Assembly today, regarding nominee Kim's remark urging him to "attend the hearing and clarify the facts," Han responded, "Since the parties involved wish for it, I ask relevant figures including National Assembly Speaker Woo Jung-sik and others to appoint me as a hearing committee member," while adding, "It seems unlikely that a hearing will be held. If one is held, I will prevent the creation of the first Minister of Justice with a criminal record since the Provisional Government."
In response to the Democratic Party filing a complaint against him for allegedly illegally receiving non-public investigation records, he replied, "Lawmakers are in a position to inform the public of tips from whistleblowers and public interest informants and protect them with their lives. I will not be shaken by such tricks."
Furthermore, when asked if he had any guesses about the background behind the decision to suspend indictment, he explained, "The disposition plan from the Seoul Western District Prosecutors' Office that I disclosed states that Kim Seung-won is guilty and demands an 8-month prison sentence. Despite that, someone overturned it." He added, "In between, there was the process of martial law and impeachment—in a word, a process where the world changed to the Democratic Party. Looking at this point, you can guess the situation."
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