"I'm Bringing a Lot of Stuff": Han Dong-hoon Releases Transcript of Call Between Kim Seung-won and Broker

Independent lawmaker Han Dong-hoon on the 5th dismissed as a "shameless lie" 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 scandal over soliciting approval for a new drug clinical trial—and a judge in charge of arrest warrants, which Kim claimed was a chance encounter.

Writing on his Facebook account, Lawmaker Han asked, "Is it true that you 'accidentally' ran into Yang around February 2022?" before posting the relevant transcript.

According to the transcript released by Han, on February 9, 2022, when Kim was a freshman lawmaker, Kim said in a phone call with Yang, "Sister, I miss you so much tears are coming to my eyes," to which Yang replied, "Brother, I'll run over right now. Where are you?"

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

In response, Kim said, "Wait a second... Well, it's the court personnel reshuffle season and all," to which Yang replied, "Ah, is it too much of a stretch?" and Kim reacted by saying, "I'll wait."

In a second phone call made on the same day, Kim said, "It's a pity if we can only see each other for 20 to 30 minutes," and Yang noted, "It's not a pity. I'm bringing a lot of stuff with me, so just stay put."

Kim then replied, "Alright, alright, I'll stay."

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


In another Facebook post, Lawmaker Han also uploaded a transcript of a phone call Yang had with someone else in October 2021.

In the transcript, regarding suspicions of soliciting approval for a new drug clinical trial, Yang stated, "Unclogging the licensing is Seung-won oppa [older brother]." Yang added, "Seung-won oppa talked to the Minister of Food and Drug Safety and said today, 'Shall I push it with the Ministry of Health and Welfare too? Your donation is only 5 million won anyway, so you need to do well. Everything is moving because of you.'"

Commenting on this, Lawmaker Han argued, "This implies that since he would only receive 5 million won in donations anyway, Yang was told to thoroughly reap the rewards in return for Kim lobbying the Minister of Food and Drug Safety."

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

He also linked a post by an official close to the pro-Han Dong-hoon faction, pointing out that the "next year" after 2021 was 2022, a year scheduled for a "presidential election," not a general election for which Kim would run.

He then wrote, "That's right. That is why Lee Jae-myung's Democratic Party is defending Kim Seung-won's 'poison lobbying for oppa,'" adding, "Withdrawing Kim Seung-won is not where this ends."

Previously, nominee Kim, a former judge, was investigated on charges of asking then-Minister of Food and Drug Safety Kim Kang-lip to approve clinical trials for the therapeutic drug in October 2021 at the solicitation of broker Yang. However, in December 2024, prosecutors issued a suspension of indictment against Kim, concluding that there was no direct exchange of money and valuables and that it was difficult to deem the solicitation illegal.

Controversy arose afterward when a photo from February 2022 showing nominee Kim, broker Yang, and a judge in charge of warrants surnamed Jeong taking a picture together became known.

In response, the personnel hearing preparation team for nominee Kim stated, "We merely ran into Judge Jeong and Yang by chance at a public private gathering, and have neither met nor contacted them since. Judge Jeong was not involved in the warrant review for the case. Two requests for arrest warrants against Yang were reviewed and dismissed by different warrant judges unrelated to Judge Jeong."

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