What did Kim Seung-won say about the COVID-19 treatment lobbying allegations?

Kim denied making any illegal solicitation to the food and drug ministry and said the review was not unfairly conducted because of his request. He added that he should have been more careful when conveying the request.

Why did Kim Seung-won say he contacted the food and drug safety minister in 2021?

He said he called to prevent the treatment from being unfairly delayed in clinical trial proceedings during the pandemic. He noted that COVID-19 treatments were being fast-tracked at the time.

How did prosecutors handle Kim Seung-won’s case over the COVID-19 treatment request?

Kim said prosecutors deferred his indictment after reviewing the case and did not charge the minister or public officials connected to it. He said prosecutors concluded there was no unlawful solicitation or distortion of a fair review.

Justice minister nominee denies illegal COVID-19 treatment lobbying allegations

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Summary

Justice Minister nominee Kim Seung-won denied allegations on Monday that he illegally lobbied for a COVID-19 treatment in 2021, while saying he should have been more careful in making the request. He said he contacted the then food and drug safety minister to keep the trial from being unfairly delayed during the pandemic. Kim also said prosecutors had withheld indictment because they could not definitively find illegal solicitation.

Key Facts

Kim Seung-won is a two-term lawmaker facing accusations of unlawful solicitation over a 2021 COVID-19 treatment approval case.
He said he called the then food and drug safety minister to prevent the drug from being unfairly delayed in clinical trial proceedings.
Prosecutors previously suspended indictment after determining his request could not be definitively found as illegal solicitation.
Kim said the minister and public officials connected to the case were not charged.
Independent Rep. Han Dong-hoon released alleged recordings between Kim and a broker about lobbying for the treatment.

By Yonhap

Published Sep 7, 2026 10:56 am KST
Updated Sep 7, 2026 11:20 am KST

Justice Minister nominee Kim Seung-won speaks to reporters as he arrives at his office in Seoul, Monday, amid allegations that he illegally lobbied for a COVID-19 treatment in 2021. 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."

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.

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