[Anchor]

Kang Se-chan, a key figure in the "new drug lobbying suspicion" involving Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Seung-won, who was once a candidate for Minister of Justice, has been sentenced to four years in prison in his appeal trial and taken into court custody. The court ruled that it was clear Kang had lobbied the Minister of Food and Drug Safety through Lawmaker Kim, a decision expected to impact ongoing investigations and trials related to Lawmaker Kim.

This report is by reporter Jang Hun-gyeong.

[Reporter]

Kang Se-chan, the founder of Genencell and a key figure in the suspicion of the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety lobbying by Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Seung-won, appeared at his appeal sentencing hearing.

[Kang Se-chan / Founder of Genencell : (Do you still maintain your position that you never lobbied Lawmaker Kim?) ......]

The appellate court today (the 30th) overturned the first-trial ruling, which had handed down a suspended prison sentence, sentencing Kang to four years in prison and a fine of 40 million won, and took him into court custody.

In particular, the court reversed the first-trial ruling that found broker Yang not guilty regarding the quid pro quo nature of the 600 million won given by Kang to Yang, who had directly approached Lawmaker Kim for the lobbying.

The court ruled that "it is clear that Kang lobbied for the approval of clinical trials handled by the Minister of Food and Drug Safety through Lawmaker Kim, and paid 600 million won to broker Yang in return."

Lawmaker Kim's side has previously flatly denied the allegations of lobbying the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, leaning on the first-trial ruling that it was difficult to conclude the 600 million won in question was payment for lobbying.

[Kim Dong-a / Democratic Party Lawmaker (15th, Confirmation Hearing) : (The first-trial) ruling has settled everything. No content explicitly promising compensation for arranging lobbying was found.]

[Kim Seung-won / Democratic Party Lawmaker (then candidate for Minister of Justice, 15th Confirmation Hearing) : It has been confirmed that there were no violations or such issues.]

With this appellate ruling, the core basis for these explanations has disappeared.

While this ruling does not directly determine Lawmaker Kim's criminal liability, its impact on ongoing investigations and trials appears inevitable.

This is because the Seoul Yeongdeungpo Police Station is investigating the whistleblowing case regarding Lawmaker Kim's new drug lobbying suspicions, and a trial is underway at the Seoul Western District Court regarding charges that Kang and broker Yang asked Lawmaker Kim for a prompt review by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety and promised a donation of 5 million won.

In particular, the Seoul Western District Court trial postponed its sentencing hearing, which was originally set for the 15th, to November, stating that it would review the results of today's appeal verdict before making a decision.

(Photo: Kang Si-woo | Video Editing: Kim Jong-mi)