Han Dong-hoon Claims Prosecutors Initially Planned to Seek Prison Term for Kim Seung-won, Asks Who Blocked It

Independent lawmaker Han Dong-hoon claimed that prosecutors during the past investigation initially intended to indict and seek a prison term for Minister of Justice nominee Kim Seung-won, who has been embroiled in allegations of lobbying for clinical trial approval of a COVID-19 treatment.

Lawmaker Han posted part of an investigative report written by the Seoul Western District Prosecutors' Office during its 2024 investigation on his social media today.

According to the disclosed content, the Seoul Western District Prosecutors' Office summoned and investigated nominee Kim in August 2024 on charges of mediated bribery, decided to indict him, and transmitted a written indictment plan containing these details to the Supreme Prosecutors' Office and the Ministry of Justice.

Lawmaker Han stated, "The Western District Prosecutors' Office's indictment plan document states that nominee Kim conveyed a solicitation to approve a clinical trial for a COVID-19 treatment developed by Xenencell to a person named Kim, and promised to receive 5 million won under the guise of a political donation from a person named Kang in exchange for the mediation," adding, "It even stated an intention to indict nominee Kim and seek an 8-month prison sentence."

He added, "Asking on behalf of the public," and "Who and why blocked the indictment and the demand for a prison term for Kim Seung-won?"

Nominee Kim faces suspicions that in 2021, after receiving text messages from a broker surnamed Yang, he solicited the then-Minister of Food and Drug Safety to approve clinical trials for the COVID-19 treatment developed by the pharmaceutical company Xenencell.

At the time, prosecutors investigated allegations that company CEO Kang lobbied lawmakers and others to gain clinical trial approval for the COVID-19 treatment, and issued a suspension of indictment for nominee Kim in December 2024.

Reported by Park Se-won | Video by Hong Jin-young | Design by Yang Hye-min | Produced by SBS Digital News
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.