Justice minister nominee apologizes for causing concern over alleged lobbying

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SEOUL, Sept. 11 (Yonhap) -- Justice Minister nominee Kim Seung-won on Friday apologized for causing public concern over allegations of illegal lobbying for a new drug but continued to claim innocence, saying he will provide a detailed explanation at his parliamentary confirmation hearing.

"As a politician, I am truly sorry for causing concern to the public," Kim told reporters arriving at his temporary office in Seoul.

Kim, a two-term lawmaker from the ruling Democratic Party, was tapped by President Lee Jae Myung late last month but has since come under fire over allegations that he illegally lobbied the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety in 2021 to help win approval for a COVID-19 treatment.

He is accused of asking the then food and drug safety minister to expedite approval of the treatment's clinical trial at the request of a broker.

Kim characterized his lobbying of the food and drug ministry as a public interest petition.

"My intent was to ask why and how a small company's (approval) procedures were stalled due to pressure from a multinational corporation and to request that such unfairness be addressed," Kim said.

He added that he had conveyed the petition to the food and drug safety minister just once and exchanged one or two related text messages.

Kim was also asked about suspicions surrounding the hiring of the son of a senior judge allegedly involved in the illegal lobbying as a legislative intern.

"I have nothing to hide. I hired him for the position of legislative assistant through an open interview process," he said. "I remember he worked hard and endured hardships while receiving only about 1 million won (US$743) a month," he said.

Kim's parliamentary confirmation hearing is set for Tuesday.

Justice Minister nominee Kim Seung-won answers reporters' questions at his temporary office in Seoul on Sept. 11, 2026. (Yonhap)

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Justice minister nominee apologizes for causing concern over alleged lobbying

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首尔，9月11日（韩联社）——法务部长官提名人金承元周五就其涉嫌非法游说推广新药一事引发公众担忧表示道歉，但他仍然坚称自己无罪，并表示将在国会确认听证会上做出详细解释。

“作为一名政治家，我对引起公众担忧深感抱歉，”金正恩在首尔临时办公室对记者说。

金正日是执政党共同民主党的两届议员，上个月底被总统李在明任命，但此后因被指控在2021年非法游说食品药品安全部以帮助获得新冠肺炎治疗药物的批准而受到抨击。

他被指控应中间人的要求，请求当时的食品药品安全部长加快批准该疗法的临床试验。

金某将他游说食品药品部的行为描述为一项公益请愿。

金表示：“我的目的是询问为什么一家小公司的（审批）程序会因为一家跨国公司的压力而停滞不前，并要求解决这种不公平现象。”

他还补充说，他只向食品药品安全部长转达过一次请愿书，并交换了一两条相关的短信。

金还被问及有关聘用一名涉嫌参与非法游说的高级法官的儿子担任立法实习生的疑点。

“我没什么好隐瞒的。我是通过公开面试聘用他担任立法助理的，”他说。“我记得他工作非常努力，忍受了很多困难，但每月收入只有大约100万韩元（约合743美元），”他说。

金正恩的国会任命听证会定于周二举行。

2026年9月11日，法务部长官提名人金承元在首尔临时办公室回答记者提问。（韩联社）

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