(LEAD) Rival parties clash over justice minister nominee's illegal lobbying allegations

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SEOUL, Sept. 15 (Yonhap) -- Rival parties clashed Tuesday over allegations surrounding Justice Minister nominee Kim Seung-won during his parliamentary confirmation hearing, including claims that he illegally lobbied authorities for a COVID-19 treatment in 2021.

Lawmakers of the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) questioned whether Kim is fit to serve as justice minister, citing a series of phone conversation transcripts and recordings between the nominee and a broker that has been released by independent lawmaker Han Dong-hoon.

Han has accused Kim of exercising undue influence on the food and drug safety ministry by asking the then minister to speed up the treatment's clinical trial approval at the broker's request.

Kim denied the allegations, calling for an investigation into how internal records related to the case ended up in Han's hands.

Kim Seung-won, the nominee for the new justice minister, takes an oath at the outset of his parliamentary confirmation hearing at the National Assembly in Seoul on Sept. 15, 2026. (Yonhap)

"We need to clarify how confidential documents from the prosecution were leaked to former minister Han Dong-hoon," Kim said.

Kim also pledged to prevent investigative information from being used for political purposes if appointed justice minister, saying he would look into whether confidential prosecution materials involving other cases had also been leaked.

Lawmakers of the ruling Democratic Party accused Han of leaking investigative materials in a politically motivated attack, questioning how he obtained information known to a limited number of people within the prosecution.

"I apologize for causing concern to the public over allegations surrounding me," Kim said in his opening remarks. "I will faithfully answer each lawmaker's questions today and explain in detail any claims that are inconsistent with the facts."

The hearing got off to a rocky start even before lawmakers began questioning Kim, as rival parties exchanged barbs over allegations involving a social cooperative for people with developmental disabilities where Kim's wife and his children work.

Kim, with tears in his eyes, denied that the cooperative had received preferential treatment in its selection as a service provider by the Suwon city government, stressing that his son worked at the organization to care for people with developmental disabilities and that it was not for any financial gain.

The PPP had requested 44 witnesses and four reference witnesses for Kim's confirmation hearing, but the DP rejected the requests.

The National Assembly also held confirmation hearings for Finance Minister nominee Lee Hyoung-il and Lee So-young, the nominee for minister for small and medium-sized enterprises, both of whom face separate controversies over real estate issues.

Cabinet nominees are subject to parliamentary confirmation hearings, but their appointments do not require parliamentary approval.

Kim Seung-won, the nominee for new justice minister, wipes away tears during his parliamentary confirmation hearing at the National Assembly in Seoul on Sept. 15, 2026. (Yonhap)

julesyi@yna.co.kr (END)

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(LEAD) Rival parties clash over justice minister nominee's illegal lobbying allegations

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首尔，9月15日（韩联社）——周二，在国会确认听证会上，各对立政党就法务部长官提名人金承元的相关指控发生冲突，其中包括他涉嫌在2021年非法游说当局寻求新冠肺炎治疗的说法。

主要反对党国民力量党（PPP）的议员们质疑金某是否适合担任法务部长，并引用了独立议员韩东勋公布的一系列金某与一名中间人之间的电话对话记录和录音。

韩指责金某对食品药品安全部施加不正当影响，要求当时的部长加快批准该疗法的临床试验，而这正是该中间人的要求。

金否认了这些指控，并呼吁调查与此案相关的内部记录是如何落入韩某手中的。

2026年9月15日，金承元（Kim Seung-won）在首尔国会举行的国会确认听证会上宣誓就职，他是新任法务部长的提名人选。（韩联社）

金说：“我们需要查明检方机密文件是如何泄露给前部长韩东勋的。”

金正日还承诺，如果被任命为司法部长，他将防止调查信息被用于政治目的，并表示他将调查其他案件的机密起诉材料是否也被泄露。

执政的民主党议员指责韩某出于政治动机泄露调查材料，并质疑他是如何获得检方内部少数人才知道的信息的。

金在开场白中表示：“对于围绕我的指控引起公众的担忧，我深表歉意。今天，我将如实回答每位议员的提问，并详细解释任何与事实不符的说法。”

听证会一开始就陷入僵局，甚至在议员们开始质询金某之前，对立双方就涉及金某妻子和孩子工作的残疾人社会合作社的指控互相指责。

金先生眼含热泪，否认水原市政府在选择合作社作为服务提供商时给予了特殊待遇，并强调他的儿子在该机构工作是为了照顾发育障碍人士，而不是为了任何经济利益。

人民进步党曾要求在金的确认听证会上传唤 44 名证人和 4 名参考证人，但民主党拒绝了这些要求。

国民议会还对财政部长提名人李亨日和中小企业部长提名人李素英举行了确认听证会，两人都因房地产问题面临争议。

内阁提名人选需经议会确认听证，但其任命无需议会批准。

2026年9月15日，在首尔国会举行的国会提名确认听证会上，新任法务部长官提名人金承元拭泪。（韩联社）

julesyi@yna.co.kr (完)

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