What did Kim Seung-won say about the alleged lobbying for a COVID-19 treatment approval?

Kim said he did not make an illegal solicitation and described his actions as a public interest petition. He said he asked why a small company’s approval process had been stalled and wanted unfairness addressed.

When is Kim Seung-won’s parliamentary confirmation hearing?

His confirmation hearing is set for Tuesday. Kim said he would provide a detailed explanation there while continuing to maintain his innocence.

What did Kim Seung-won say about the suspicions involving the judge’s son?

Kim said he had nothing to hide and that the son of a senior judge was hired as a legislative assistant through an open interview process. He also said he remembered the assistant working hard for about 1 million won, or 743 dollars, a month.

Justice minister nominee apologizes for causing concern over alleged lobbying

Listen

Summary

Justice Minister nominee Kim Seung-won apologized in Seoul on Friday for causing public concern over alleged illegal lobbying but said he will explain the matter at his parliamentary confirmation hearing on Tuesday. He denied wrongdoing, saying his contact with the food and drug safety minister was a public interest petition about a stalled COVID-19 treatment review. Kim also rejected suspicions about hiring a senior judge’s son, saying he was selected through an open interview process.

Key Facts

Kim said he conveyed the petition to the food and drug safety minister once and exchanged one or two related text messages.
He said the request was about why a small company’s approval procedures were stalled due to pressure from a multinational corporation.
Kim said the son of a senior judge was hired as a legislative assistant through an open interview process.
Kim is a two-term lawmaker from the ruling Democratic Party who was tapped by President Lee Jae Myung late last month.
His parliamentary confirmation hearing is set for Tuesday.

By Yonhap

Published Sep 11, 2026 10:54 am KST

Justice Minister nominee Kim Seung-won answers reporters' questions at his temporary office in Seoul, Friday. 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 ($743) a month," he said.

Kim's parliamentary confirmation hearing is set for Tuesday.

Explore More