(LEAD) Justice minister nominee denies illegal COVID-19 treatment lobbying allegations

This will let Google show Yonhap news articles that match or are related to your search

(ATTN: UPDATES throughout with more details, remarks; CHANGES photo)

SEOUL, Sept. 7 (Yonhap) -- Justice Minister nominee Kim Seung-won on Monday denied allegations of illegal 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, a two-term lawmaker, 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)

Kim said he had called the food and drug safety minister at the time to prevent the drug from being unfairly delayed in clinical trial proceedings, noting that COVID-19 treatments were being fast-tracked during the pandemic.

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

"Prosecutors acknowledged there was no unlawful solicitation or distorting a fair review through its investigation result," he said, adding the minister and public officials connected to the case were not charged.

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)

(LEAD) Justice minister nominee denies intention to cancel indictments against Lee once in office

(profile) Prosecutorial reform advocate tapped as new justice minister

(2nd LD) Lee nominates 6 ministers in major Cabinet reshuffle, including finance minister

7 military officers disciplined over lax management of firearms: data

Los Angeles declares 'BTS Week' ahead of concerts

N. Korea drops unification goal, cements Kim as sole leader in revised party charter

BLACKPINK's Lisa and Jisoo release solo singles on same day

(LEAD) Lee heads to France for state visit, summit with Macron

White House says U.S. policy on N. Korea unchanged, reaffirms Trump's openness to dialogue with Kim

(LEAD) Gov't proposes record 821 tln-won budget for 2027 to boost growth

BIFF to open with biggest lineup of 246 films since 2019

Samsung Electronics union leaders under probe over 'union blacklist'

Tourist complaints in S. Korea hit record high amid travel boom

Lee arrives in France, set for summit with Macron in Paris

Seoul fireworks show attracts 1 million spectators

N. Korea commissions nuclear-capable naval destroyer Kang Kon

Waiting for fireworks festival

World island expo in Yeosu

Fireworks festival in Seoul

(LEAD) 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。

（注意：全文将更新更多细节和说明；更换照片）

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了有关他在2021年非法游说获取新冠肺炎治疗药物的指控，同时承认当时在申请药物时应该更加谨慎。

曾任两届国会议员的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）

金表示，他当时致电食品药品安全部长，以防止该药物在临床试验程序中被不公平地拖延，并指出在疫情期间，新冠肺炎治疗药物正在加快审批流程。

他还强调，检方在审查此案后暂缓对他提起诉讼。此前，检方在认定金某的请求无法确凿地构成非法索取后，并未正式对其提出指控。

他说：“检察官承认，调查结果中不存在非法索取或歪曲公正审查的行为”，并补充说，与此案有关的部长和公职人员没有被起诉。

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)

（导语）司法部长提名人否认上任后有意撤销对李显龙的起诉

（简介）检控改革倡导者被任命为新任司法部长

（第二条）李显龙提名6位部长，进行内阁重大改组，其中包括财政部长

7名军官因枪支管理不善受到纪律处分：数据

洛杉矶宣布举办“BTS周”，为演唱会预热

朝鲜放弃统一目标，修订党章巩固金正恩的唯一领导人地位

BLACKPINK 的 Lisa 和 Jisoo 同一天发行个人单曲

（导语）李将军前往法国进行国事访问，并与马克龙举行峰会

白宫表示美国对朝政策不变，重申特朗普对与金正恩对话持开放态度。

（导语）政府提议2027年预算案高达821万亿韩元，创历史新高，以促进经济增长

釜山国际电影节将以2019年以来规模最大的阵容开幕，展映246部影片。

三星电子工会领导人因“工会黑名单”接受调查

韩国旅游业蓬勃发展，游客投诉量创历史新高

李登基抵达法国，将在巴黎与马克龙举行峰会。

首尔烟花表演吸引了100万观众

朝鲜委托拥有核能力的海军驱逐舰 Kang Kon 服役

等待烟花节

丽水世界岛屿博览会

首尔烟花节

（导语）司法部长提名人否认非法游说新冠肺炎治疗的指控