KOR
▲ Rep. Kim Seung-won of the Democratic Party
The Corruption Investigation Office for High-Ranking Officials (CIO) is currently summoning and questioning the complainant who filed a complaint against Democratic Party Representative Kim Seung-won over allegations of lobbying for the approval of a COVID-19 new drug clinical trial.
The CIO's Investigation Division 1 (headed by Senior Prosecutor Na Chang-su) is questioning a person surnamed Cho in the capacity of a complainant this afternoon (October 8), who filed charges against Rep. Kim for abuse of power, providing a bribe to a third party, and accepting a bribe through mediation.
During the complainant questioning, Cho mentioned that the Seoul High Court recently acknowledged in an appellate ruling on breach of trust and other charges against Genencel founder Professor Kang that a clinical trial approval lobbying effort was made through Rep. Kim and that 600 million won was paid to brokers in return, arguing that a strict investigation into Rep. Kim is necessary.
On September 30, the 7th Criminal Division of the Seoul High Court sentenced Professor Kang, who was indicted on charges including breach of trust under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment, etc. of Specific Economic Crimes, to four years in prison and a fine of 40 million won, and placed him under court custody.
The court also overturned the lower court's acquittal, finding him guilty of violating the Act on Regulation and Punishment of Concealment of Proceeds from Crime.
The appellate court ruled that Professor Kang had requested Rep. Kim, through a broker surnamed Yang, to approve the clinical trial for the new drug, and paid 600 million won to Yang's side under the guise of investment in return.
Based on this court ruling, Cho is testifying that an investigation should be conducted into whether Rep. Kim is guilty of third-party bribery.
Previously, on September 28, Cho submitted a complaint to the CIO requesting an investigation into whether Rep. Kim's contacts with Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) officials, including then-MFDS Minister Kim Gang-lip, influenced the clinical trial approval review, and whether he was promised valuables or caused them to be provided to a third party in exchange for the lobbying.
Rep. Kim has been suspected of contacting then-MFDS Minister Kim Gang-lip in 2021 at the request of broker Yang to push for the approval of Genencel's clinical trial.
Rep. Kim was investigated by prosecutors in October of the same year, but prosecutors issued a suspension of indictment in December 2024.
During a subsequent personnel hearing, Rep. Kim explained that while he did contact the former MFDS Minister at the time, it was to convey a grievance petition rather than to lobby.
Meanwhile, Rep. Kim had been nominated as the Minister of Justice candidate but voluntarily resigned following the confirmation hearing.
(Photo: Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.
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