'Broker' Yang Attends Trial, Keeps Silence Amid Flurry of Questions

[Anchor]

While the confirmation hearing for nominee Kim Seung-won was underway, a court held a trial for key figures accused of lobbying the nominee. The final sentencing hearings for a broker surnamed Yang and the CEO of Genexine, which were originally scheduled for yesterday (the 15th), have been postponed by two months.

Reporter An Huijae has the details.

[Reporter]

A woman wearing a mask heads toward the courtroom, escorted by court officials.

She is the broker surnamed Yang, who is accused of attempting to offer bribes in 2021 to National Assembly member Kim Seung-won—who is now the Minister of Justice nominee and with whom she had personal ties—during the approval process for a new drug's clinical trials.

Yang, who was indicted without detention in December of the year before last and has been on trial, had reportedly requested police protection after coming under fire following the public release of the so-called "oppa transcript" of conversations shared with nominee Kim Seung-won. However, she remained tight-lipped in response to questions from reporters.

[Broker Yang: ((Nominee Kim Seung-won) What is your relationship with him? Why did you call him "oppa"? Why did you request personal protection?) ......]

Among Yang's four charges, the core allegation revolves around suspected "lobbying of the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety."

The charge states that five years ago, during the process of gaining approval for a clinical trial plan for a COVID-19 treatment, she conspired with Genexine founder Kang Se-chan to lobby nominee Kim for favors, such as prompt review by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, and promised 5 million won in political donations.

While the actual transfer of money fell through because nominee Kim had already reached his donation limit, Yang's side maintains that it was not an illicit solicitation. Meanwhile, prosecutors argue that a crime was established because quid pro quo valuables were promised.

Kang Se-chan, who was also indicted alongside her, is likewise denying the charges.

Initially, the prosecution's sentencing recommendation and the defendants' final statements were scheduled for yesterday, but the trial concluded in just 10 minutes.

This was because the court decided to set an additional hearing date after stating it would review the ruling of an ongoing appellate trial for a separately indicted case involving Kang, which is scheduled for the 30th.

The next trial is scheduled for November 12, meaning it will take more time before a conclusion is reached in the first trial.

(Photo courtesy of Yonhap News)
(Reported by Lee Chan-su | Video by Kim Jong-mi | Graphics by Cho Su-in)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.