Professor Kang, the founder of pharmaceutical company Genencell who was implicated in allegations of illicit solicitations related to COVID-19 drug clinical trials involving Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker Kim Seung-won, was sentenced to prison and detained in court during an appellate trial.
The Criminal Division 7 of the Seoul High Court sentenced Professor Kang, who was indicted on charges including breach of trust and violations of the Pharmaceutical Affairs Act, to four years in prison and a fine of 40 million won today (September 30), and ordered him detained in court.
The first-instance ruling, which had acquitted Professor Kang, was overturned on appeal.
The court found Professor Kang guilty of submitting false data to secure clinical trial approval from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety during the development of a new COVID-19 treatment in 2021.
In particular, the court also found him guilty of violating the Act on Regulation and Punishment of Criminal Proceeds Concealment, a charge on which he had been acquitted in the first trial.
The court pointed out, "Defendant recognized that broker Yang had solicited clinical trial approval from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety through lawmaker Kim Seung-won, and paid 600 million won to Yang's side under the guise of acquiring convertible bonds in return."
As the first-instance acquittal was overturned and a key figure was taken into custody, the opposition launched an offensive.
People Power Party lawmaker Na Kyung-won urged a thorough investigation into the money trail, stating, "The arrows of the investigation must point toward the final destination of the solicitation and the reality of power-based lobbying."
Lawmaker Na added, "Prime Minister Han Seong-sook, who described lawmaker Kim as a 'competent person,' must also take due responsibility as an accomplice in this personnel catastrophe."
Independent lawmaker Han Dong-hoon also argued for the necessity of a special counsel to probe the allegations, saying, "The door to a special counsel has opened."
He directly targeted the ruling party leadership, adding, "Democratic Party leader Kim Min-seok, who called it an 'appointment that looks better the more you look at it,' should step forward and say something."
Reported by Lee Hyeon-yeong | Video by Seo Byeong-uk | Graphics by Lee Sumin | Produced by SBS Digital News
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