Justice Minister Nominee Kim Seung-won and a Broker, Yang, Related to Allegations That Kim Sought Expedited Approval of a Covid-19 Treatment

Independent lawmaker Han Dong-hoon has released new recordings of phone calls between Justice Minister nominee Kim Seung-won and a broker, reviving allegations that Kim sought to expedite approval of a COVID-19 treatment clinical trial through the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS). Han also claimed the request was passed down to an MFDS section chief via then-MFDS Commissioner Kim Gang-lip. In one recording, Yang says, "The people in charge have been contacting us, but it's not getting past the section chief level, to which Kim replies, "It's blocked at the section chief level?

Got it. Kim is under investigation over allegations that, at Yang's request, he sent a message to then-Commissioner Kim on Oct. 12, 2021, asking for swift approval of the Phase 2/3 clinical trial plan for GeneCell, a COVID-19 treatment developer.

The MFDS approved the trial plan on Oct. 26 that year.