"To Prevent Obstruction and Delay," Explanation Given... But Drugmaker Conducted Fake Tests

[Anchor]

Nominee for Minister of Justice Kim Seung-won explained that regarding suspicions of lobbying the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, his intention was to prevent procedures from being delayed because multinational companies were hindering domestic firms from developing treatments. However, it has been revealed that the controversial new drug developer submitted false materials at the time of its patent registration and clinical trial approval.

Reporter Kim Deok-hyeon has the details.

[Reporter]

Nominee for Minister of Justice Kim Seung-won held a doorstop interview with reporters on his way to work after four days.

Regarding suspicions that he lobbied for the approval of a clinical trial plan for the COVID-19 treatment developer Genencell, he stated, "I should have been more cautious in delivering civil petitions," but added the explanation that, "Through various channels, I obtained answers that it could help in treating COVID-19."

[Kim Seung-won / Nominee for Minister of Justice]: "There was information that multinational companies were obstructing domestic pharmaceutical companies from developing COVID-19 treatments, so the intention was to have it processed swiftly..."

According to prosecutors' indictments and court rulings, Nominee Kim received a request from a person surnamed Yang to help expedite procedures regarding approval from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, and also received materials related to Genencell's clinical trials.

Later, Nominee Kim sent a text message to then-Ministry of Food and Drug Safety Chief Kim Gang-lip asking for prompt processing, saying, "I am worried about the leakage of national wealth."

Then, what was the actual reality of Genencell?

According to the first-instance ruling against Genencell founder Kang, Kang fabricated false data in January 2021, pretending that hamster experiments—which were never actually conducted—had been performed, to obtain a patent for a COVID-19 treatment ingredient.

Subsequently, during the process of approving the clinical trial plan, when the National Institute of Food and Drug Safety Evaluation requested supplementary data in June 2021, stating that "data on the mechanism of action related to COVID-19 is insufficient," Genencell submitted manipulated data to secure approval.

While Nominee Kim maintains his position that he delivered the petition for the sake of COVID-19 treatment, it was revealed through a court ruling in 2024 that there were problems with Genencell's patent acquisition and clinical trial approval.

Suspensions have also been raised that Nominee Kim's contact may have been one of the factors that prevented the authorities' verification system—which should have caught the manipulated data—from functioning properly at the time.

This is because additional suspicions have been raised that following Nominee Kim's contact with the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety chief, the chief's secretary sent "pressure-laden text messages" to the frontline division head who held final decision-making authority over clinical trials within the ministry.

(Video Editing: Nam Il | Design: Yang Gi-tae, Seo Seung-hyun)

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