Key Suspicion Over 'MFDS Lobbying' Leads to War of Words Over Whistleblower

[Anchor]
 
As the National Assembly confirmation hearing for Justice Minister nominee Kim Seung-won is set to take place on the 15th, a court trial involving businessman Yang, a key figure in the alleged "Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) lobbying," and Genencel founder Kang Se-chan will be held on the same day, making it a critical turning point for the allegations.

This is reported by Jang Hun-gyeong.

[Reporter]

On the 15th, the National Assembly will hold a confirmation hearing for Justice Minister nominee Kim Seung-won, while the Seoul Western District Court will hold a trial for Yang, a close junior of nominee Kim, and Kang Se-chan, founder of the new drug development company Genencel, who are central figures in the "MFDS lobbying suspicion."

According to the prosecution's indictment, Yang and Kang are accused of promising to offer a bribe by conspiring to give a 5 million won political donation to nominee Kim in exchange for favors, such as expedited review and approval by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety regarding clinical trial plans for a new drug.

Although the actual funds were not transferred because nominee Kim had reached his donation limit, the prosecution maintains that the crime is established because quid pro quo valuables were promised.

On the other hand, nominee Kim received a suspension of indictment in December 2024, citing reasons such as the difficulty in concluding the illegality of the lobbying and the fact that no actual exchange of money or valuables took place.

In June, nominee Kim appeared as a witness in the two individuals' trial. In the upcoming trial on the 15th, closing statements by Kang and Yang and the prosecution's sentencing recommendations will take place.

Because the court's ruling of guilt or innocence regarding the charge of promising to offer a bribe could heavily influence the persuasiveness of nominee Kim's side—which claims it was merely "conveying a simple grievance petition"—the trial is drawing as much attention as the confirmation hearing.

Regarding the 600 million won that Yang received from Kang after the approval, the prosecution views it as compensation for the lobbying facilitated through nominee Kim. In contrast, Yang's side argues that there was no quid pro quo and it was unrelated to lobbying because she was in a romantic relationship with Kang.

Kang maintains that the "600 million won was money properly invested in Yang's business" and that he was not in a romantic relationship with Yang.

Meanwhile, as the Democratic Party launched an offensive by mentioning the background and history of the public whistleblower who first reported the suspicion to the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission and other agencies, the conservative opposition criticized this as an atrocity that effectively revealed the whistleblower's identity.

[Park Sun-won / Democratic Party Representative: Who is Cho, who claims to be a public whistleblower? (She is a figure who) not only demanded a private relationship (with businessman Yang) but also flaunted her close ties with the People Power Party.]

[Han Dong-hoon / Independent Representative: Do not bare your teeth and tear into whistleholders, people like this. Tear into me instead. I will pull out every single one of those teeth.]

The personnel verification of nominee Kim is unfolding from multiple angles centered around the "MFDS lobbying suspicion," encompassing the confirmation hearing, the trial, and the dispute over the whistleblower.

(Photo: Lee Seung-hwan | Video Editing: So Ji-hye | Design: Hwang Se-yeon)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.