'As a Humanities Major, I Don't Know Drug Efficacy'... 'Used for Private Lobbying'

[Anchor]

The confirmation hearing for Justice Minister nominee Kim Seung-won, who is engulfed in various allegations, was held at the National Assembly today (September 15). First, let us look into what was addressed regarding the allegations of solicitation involving the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety. The People Power Party characterized it as "private lobbying" and raised issues that animal testing for a COVID-19 treatment had been fabricated. In response, nominee Kim replied that because he was a "humanities major," he "could not know the efficacy of the treatment."

Kim Deok-hyeon reports.

[Reporter]

At the confirmation hearing for Justice Minister nominee Kim Seung-won held today at the National Assembly.

People Power Party lawmakers questioned whether nominee Kim made an "improper solicitation" to the then-head of the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety in 2021 regarding the approval of a clinical trial plan for Genencell, a COVID-19 treatment developer.

Nominee Kim explained that it was a "conveyance of a public-interest civil complaint" out of concern over a "drain of national wealth," but when pointed out that Genencell's animal tests were revealed to have been fabricated through a first-instance court ruling, he gave this answer:

[Kim Min-jeon / People Power Party Lawmaker: Submitting fabricated animal testing results to the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety—isn't this already stated in the court ruling?]

[Kim Seung-won / Justice Minister Nominee: Lawmaker, I am a humanities major. Regarding the efficacy of that treatment and the like—(Can't humanities majors even read court rulings?) I have no way of knowing.]

Regarding this "humanities major remark," nominee Kim's side later released an additional statement, explaining, "It meant that due to a lack of expertise in the relevant field, I was unable to examine the details more carefully," adding, "I apologize for causing misunderstanding with inadequate phrasing."

Within the People Power Party, demands were also made that he take responsibility for participants in clinical trials who were administered the Genencell drug and for victims of stock manipulation allegations.

[Yoon Sang-hyun / People Power Party Lawmaker: We define this as having been used for private lobbying. Saying they would help (an individual surnamed Yang) make hundreds of billions of won—he was taken advantage of with such pure intentions. It is truly inappropriate.]

Democratic Party lawmakers emphasized that the case was settled in December 2024 when the prosecution under the Yoon Suk Yeol administration granted nominee Kim a suspension of indictment, arguing that the leak of internal prosecutorial investigation materials is a far bigger issue.

[Kim Dong-ah / Democratic Party Lawmaker: These are records that even the parties involved cannot view at all, yet such content was leaked.]

[Kim Seung-won / Justice Minister Nominee: I believe it must be uncovered how such confidential, internal prosecutorial materials flowed to former Minister Han Dong-hoon, and...]

Nominee Kim also remarked, "There are also aspects I regret."

[Kim Seung-won / Justice Minister Nominee: In hindsight, I feel it would have been better if I had given instructions through my aides. I do have regrets now about whether I was too trusting.]

(Recorded by Lee Seung-hwan, Shin Dong-hwan | Video by Jeon Min-gyu)

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