Denied Meeting After 'Three-Way Selfie,' But Another Photo Surfaces

[Anchor]

Kim Seung-won, nominee for Minister of Justice, explained that he had not met businessman Yang, known as a broker in the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety solicitation allegations, since February 2022. However, with the release of a photo showing the two together in 2023, the nominee's explanation has virtually lost its validity.

Reporting by Shin Yong-il.

[Reporter]

A photo has been released showing Kim Seung-won, nominee for Minister of Justice, together with businessman Yang and Judge Jung.

The photo was taken in February 2022, and Judge Jung was in charge of warrant-dedicated duties at the jurisdiction court when Yang was investigated by prosecutors in 2024.

In response, the nominee's side officially stated today (the 4th), "We only happened to cross paths with Yang and others at a private gathering around February 2022, and have not met or contacted them since."

However, a contradicting photo has emerged.

The photo shows Yang and Nominee Kim together in front of a business operated by Yang at the 43rd Suwon City Day of Persons with Disabilities commemorative event.

The photo was taken in late April 2023, which contradicts the nominee's claim that there were no meetings after February 2022.

In response, the nominee's side explained that it meant they had never contacted or met each other personally, and that he participated as a regional district lawmaker in an event hosted by the local government.

Today, Nominee Kim did not make an appearance at the office in Jongno-gu, Seoul, where the personnel hearing preparation team is set up.

As suspicions continue to pile up, he stated his position solely through a lengthy press statement. First, regarding the fact that he was sentenced to a fine for drunk driving in July 2008 when he was a lawyer, he apologized, saying, "I deeply reflect on it."

On the other hand, regarding the suspicion of solicitation to the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, he denied it once again, following yesterday, stating that it was simply delivering a grievance petition regarding concerns that clinical trial procedures were being unfairly delayed, and that it was for public interest purposes.

(Video Editing: Lee Seung-jin, Design: Lee Ga-jin, Sooin)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.