Justice minister nominee denies illegal COVID-19 treatment lobbying allegations

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SEOUL, Sept. 7 (Yonhap) -- Justice Minister nominee Kim Seung-won on Monday denied illegally lobbying for a COVID-19 treatment in 2021, while acknowledging he should have been more careful in his request over the medication at the time.

Kim has faced accusations of unlawful solicitation for allegedly asking the then food and drug safety minister to speed up the treatment's clinical trial approval at a broker's request.

"I take seriously the fact that I should have been more careful in conveying the request," Kim told reporters. "I never made an illegal solicitation to the food and drug ministry, and its review was not unfairly conducted as a result."

Justice Minister nominee Kim Seung-won speaks to reporters as he arrives at his office in central Seoul on Sept. 7, 2026. (Yonhap)

He also noted the prosecution's deferral of his indictment when they examined the case. Prosecutors previously dropped the case after determining Kim's request could not be definitively found as illegal solicitation.

Kim's side earlier described his request as simply delivering a public interest grievance to prevent the treatment's trial from being delayed, adding that he did not receive any political donation or valuables in return.

Kim has faced mounting pressure over the allegations, with independent Rep. Han Dong-hoon releasing alleged recordings between Kim and a broker about lobbying for the treatment.

Kim accused Han of leaking investigative material in a politically motivated attack, questioning how he obtained the material and demanding that he appear at his confirmation hearing.

yunhwanchae@yna.co.kr (END)

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Justice minister nominee denies illegal COVID-19 treatment lobbying allegations

这将使谷歌能够向您展示与您的搜索匹配或相关的韩联社新闻文章。

首尔，9月7日（韩联社）——韩国法务部长官提名人金承元周一否认在2021年非法游说获取新冠肺炎治疗药物，但他承认，当时在药物申请方面，他应该更加谨慎。

金某被指控非法招揽，据称他应中间人的要求，要求当时的食品药品安全部长加快该疗法的临床试验审批。

金某告诉记者：“我非常重视自己在传达请求时应该更加谨慎这一事实。我从未向食品药品安全部进行过任何非法索取，因此该部门的审查也并无不公。”

2026年9月7日，韩国法务部长官提名人金承元抵达首尔市中心办公室时接受记者采访。（韩联社）

他还提到，检方在审查此案后推迟了对他的起诉。此前，检方在认定金某的请求无法确凿地构成非法招揽后，撤销了此案。

金正恩方面此前称，他的请求只是出于公共利益，为了防止治疗试验被推迟，并补充说他没有收到任何政治捐款或贵重物品作为回报。

金正恩因这些指控面临越来越大的压力，独立议员韩东勋公布了据称是金正恩与一名经纪人就游说治疗方案进行的录音。

金指责韩泄露调查材料是出于政治动机，并质疑他是如何获得这些材料的，同时要求他出席确认听证会。

yunhwanchae@yna.co.kr (完)

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