[Anchor]
At the center of the "Ministry of Food and Drug Safety solicitation allegations" is an individual identified as Yang. Yang, whom nominee Kim described as a "close junior" and a "successful businessman," is someone who previously ran an entertainment bar before transforming into a businessman. Meanwhile, Genencel CEO Kang described Yang as a friend who "liked to flaunt his connections."
Reporter Kim Jin-woo has the details.
[Reporter]
A building in Cheongdam-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul.
Yang, a key figure in the "new drug solicitation allegations" whom Minister of Justice nominee Kim Seung-won described as a "close junior and successful businessman," used to run an entertainment bar at this location.
[Valet Parking Employee: I know it had an old name like 'OO Bar'. Parking tickets or things like that...]&br;
Yang was given a suspended sentence in 2013 for failing to pay severance wages to entertainment hosts.
The following year, Yang transformed into the CEO of K Company, a cosmetics and pharmaceutical firm, and even launched women's health products.
When reporting crews visited the office of K Company, the door was firmly locked.
A delivery package sent to Yang in August of last year remains abandoned there.
[Building Manager: I understand it has been quite a while since anyone showed up. Seems like quite a while.]
People around neighboring businesses remember K Company as having "around 10 employees," and it has been confirmed that K Company went bankrupt in 2023.
Previously in 2021, Yang repeatedly conveyed requests from Genencel CEO Kang to nominee Kim Seung-won, asking for the swift processing and approval of a new drug clinical trial plan.
However, speaking today (the 8th), CEO Kang said of Yang, "He used to flaunt his close connections."
[CEO Kang / Genencel: He's just a friend who showed off his connections without much thought. When doing sales and marketing, people might say things like 'Oh, I'm close with this kind of person.']
The meaning is that he "bragged about his personal network."
[CEO Kang / Genencel: During conversations with third parties, recordings—everything seems to be automatically recorded. He might brag about his connections, and when he goes on and on, you can't just hang up on him.]
Meanwhile, nominee Kim's side released a transcript today of a phone call between Yang and CEO Kang that took place on October 12, 2021.
The transcript contains Yang mentioning, "I just talked with lawmaker Kim Seung-won," and stating that he was told to submit a report to the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety through the BH, meaning the Blue House.
Nominee Kim's side also released a transcript from 4 minutes prior, with the intention of showing that when Yang actually spoke with nominee Kim 4 minutes before that call, there was no mention of the BH at all, arguing that Yang exaggerates things that do not exist.
(Video reporting: Lee Byung-joo, Lee Chan-soo, Choi Dae-woong | Video editing: Yoon Tae-ho | Design: Jang Sung-bum)
▶ [Exclusive] "National Wealth Leak Was Yang's Expression… Never Met Kim Seung-won"
※
Copying, redistribution, and unauthorized use in AI training are strictly prohibited.