"Taking Plenty of Things with Me"... Han Dong-hoon Cites Transcript of Kim Seung-won and Broker's Phone Call

Independent lawmaker Han Dong-hoon on the 5th refuted the explanation given by Justice Minister nominee Kim Seung-won regarding a February 2022 photo showing Kim with a broker surnamed Yang, who was implicated in a new drug clinical trial approval solicitation case, and a warrant-duty judge, calling it a "shameless lie."

Lawmaker Han posted on his Facebook account, asking, "Is it true that you 'accidentally' ran into Yang around February 2022?" and published the relevant transcript.

According to the transcript released by Lawmaker Han, on February 9, 2022, when Kim was a freshman lawmaker, he said in a phone call with Yang, "Younger sister, I miss you so much that tears are welling up in my eyes," to which Yang replied, "Older brother, I'll run over right now. Where are you?"

When Kim said, "I'm in Yeouido," Yang responded, "I'm in Hanam and it'll take an hour to arrive, is that okay? I'll leave right now, so please give me the address."

In response, Kim said, "Wait a second... ah, we also have the court personnel reshuffle and stuff," to which Yang answered, "Ah, is it too far?" and Kim reacted by saying, "I'll wait."

In a second phone call made on the same day, Kim said, "It'll be a pity if we can only see each other for 20 to 30 minutes," and Yang mentioned, "It won't be a pity. I'm packing plenty of things and coming, so just hang on."

Then Kim replied, "Alright, alright, I will."

Regarding the "things" mentioned by Yang, Lawmaker Han asked, "What was the 'thing' that you received in abundance from Yang?"


In another Facebook post, Lawmaker Han also uploaded a transcript of a phone call made by Yang with another person in October 2021.

In this transcript, regarding the suspicion of solicitation for new drug clinical trial approval, Yang stated, "Unblocking the permits is Seung-won oppa," and added, "Seung-won oppa talked to the head of the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety and said today, 'Shall I push it to the Ministry of Health and Welfare too? The donation is only 5 million won anyway, so you need to do well. You're the one moving everything based on what you're told.'"

Regarding this, Lawmaker Han argued, "The implication was that even if he receives a donation, it's only 5 million won, so Yang should take full advantage of the reward for lobbying the head of the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety on his behalf."

In addition, Lawmaker Han re-excerpted and posted a part of a transcript between Kim and Yang dated September 14, 2021, revealed previously, in which Yang mentioned, "Once this is monetized, it'll also be good for oppa's election next year."

He also linked a post by a pro-Han Dong-hoon faction figure pointing out that the year following 2021, which is 2022, was not scheduled for a general election in which Kim would run, but a "presidential election."

He then wrote, "That's right. Therefore, the Democratic Party's Lee Jae-myung defends Kim Seung-won's 'oppa poison lobbying'," adding, "It's not going to end just by withdrawing Kim Seung-won."

Previously, nominee Kim, a former judge, was investigated on charges of asking then-Ministry of Food and Drug Safety Minister Kim Kang-lip to approve clinical trials for the treatment in October 2021 at the solicitation of Yang, but prosecutors issued a suspension of indictment for Kim in December 2024, stating that there was no direct monetary exchange and it was difficult to conclude that the solicitation was illegal.

The controversy arose afterward when a photo from February 2022 showing Kim, broker Yang, and a warrant-duty judge surnamed Jung taking pictures together became known.

In response, Kim's personnel hearing preparation team stated, "We merely happened to run into Judge Jung and Yang at a public private gathering, and we have not met or contacted them since," adding, "Judge Jung was not involved in the warrant review for the case. The two requests for arrest warrants against Yang were reviewed and dismissed by different warrant-duty judges unrelated to Judge Jung."

(Photo: Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.