From Bar Operator to Entrepreneur: Who is Yang, the "Junior" Linked to Kim Seung-won?

[Anchor]

A figure identified as Mr. Yang also sits at the center of the allegations surrounding lobbying involving the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety. Nominee Kim described Yang as a "close junior" and a "successful entrepreneur," a person who previously operated an entertainment bar before transitioning into business. However, Genencel CEO Kang described Yang as a friend who "liked to flaunt his personal connections."

Reporting by reporter Kim Jin-woo.

[Reporter]

A building in Cheongdam-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul.

Mr. Yang, a key figure in the alleged new drug lobbying whom Judicial Minister Nominee Kim Seung-won described as a "close junior and successful entrepreneur," once operated an entertainment bar here.

[Valet Parking Employee: I know it used to have an old name, something like 'OO Bar.' Like the parking tickets...] DX

Mr. Yang received a finalized sentence-with-suspended-judgment in 2013 for charges of failing to pay severance wages to entertainment hosts.

The following year, he transformed into the CEO of company K, a cosmetics and pharmaceutical firm, and even launched women's health products.

The office of Company K visited by the reporting team.

The door is tightly locked.

A delivery package addressed to Mr. Yang that arrived in August of last year remains abandoned as it is.

[Building Manager: I understand he hasn't shown up for quite a while now. Seems like quite a while.]

People associated with neighboring businesses remember Company K as having "around 10 employees," and it has been confirmed that Company K went bankrupt in 2023.

Previously, in 2021, Mr. Yang repeatedly relayed requests from Genencel CEO Kang to Nominee Kim Seung-won asking for expedited approval of a new drug clinical trial plan.

However, regarding Mr. Yang, CEO Kang stated today (the 8th), "He used to flaunt his personal connections."

[Mr. Kang / Genencel CEO: He's just a friend who showed off his connections without much thought. When doing sales and marketing, he would say things like, 'Oh, I'm close with this kind of person.']

Meaning he "bragged about his network."

[Mr. Kang / Genencel CEO: During a conversation with a third party, the recording—everything seems to be automatically recorded. He might have boasted about his connections, and when he goes on talking like that, you can't just hang up the phone on him.]

Meanwhile, Nominee Kim's side released a transcript today of a phone call made on October 12, 2021, between Mr. Yang and CEO Kang.

It contains content where Mr. Yang mentions, "I just spoke with lawmaker Kim Seung-won," and told him to submit the report to the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety through the BH, meaning the presidential office.

Nominee Kim's side also released a transcript from 4 minutes prior, with the intention of showing that when Mr. Yang actually spoke with Nominee Kim 4 minutes before that call, there was no mention of the BH, arguing that Mr. Yang exaggerated things that did not happen.

(Camera reporting: Lee Byung-joo, Lee Chan-soo, Choi Dae-woong | Video editing: Yoon Tae-ho | Design: Jang Sung-beom)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.