"Allegations largely resolved through acquittal, deferred prosecution"
"Drunk-driving fine of 700,000 won not that heavy a sentence"
Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker Kim Dong-a said Tuesday that Ministry of Justice minister nominee Kim Seung-won should be given ample opportunity to address allegations that he lobbied the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety to approve a clinical trial. She added that the allegations had already been largely resolved through an acquittal and a deferred prosecution decision.
Kim, a member of the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee, made the remarks on SBS Radio's "Kim Tae-hyun's Politics Show," saying the central issue at the confirmation hearing was the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety lobbying allegations raised by independent lawmaker Han Dong-hoon. "I think it is necessary to give the nominee ample opportunity to explain himself," she said.
Kim said the nominee had already received an acquittal and that the deferred prosecution decision had sufficiently conveyed the intent to clear him of suspicion. "I find it regrettable that we are spending this precious time on this, but given the significant media attention, I think the nominee's explanation is probably necessary," she said.
She went on to say that the allegations of preferential lobbying at the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety involved matters on which an acquittal had already been handed down, and that the deferred prosecution was itself a non-indictment decision. "It cannot be seen that any improper solicitation took place. It can be viewed as the exercise of duties as a lawmaker, and the decision noted that no clear quid pro quo relationship was established," she said.
On the collapse of efforts to call witnesses at the confirmation hearing, Kim said she found it "regrettable and apologetic." She explained, however, that the key witnesses the opposition had sought to call were currently standing trial, and that she had judged it a situation where "proper testimony could not be obtained."
Kim also turned her fire on Han over his release of investigative materials related to the nominee. Regarding the recordings Han made public, she said she suspected they had been obtained "either through prosecutors or through internal briefings Han received while serving as justice minister."
She pointed to the fact that the recordings Han released appeared to have been edited. "The parts favorable to lawmaker Kim Seung-won have been deleted, and in some recordings unnecessary portions have been cut," Kim said. "Would lawmaker Han Dong-hoon really have edited them himself?"
She went on to say that when prosecutors compile recordings as attachments during the process of reporting on an investigation, "that is how they organize them," suggesting Han had not received the full investigative record but rather edited compilations of key evidence suspected of proving guilt. "Is he not now releasing those edited portions?" she said.
Kim also urged that a swift compulsory investigation be launched against Han. "Because lawmaker Han is an expert in investigations, I have requested that a compulsory investigation be conducted quickly so that a situation does not arise where evidence is concealed — or concealed in a manner that does not technically constitute a crime," she said.
Kim also left open the possibility of expelling Han from the National Assembly. "There seems to be a question as to whether it is appropriate for him to retain his seat as a lawmaker, given the baseless allegations he has raised and his use of investigative records that were illegally leaked from within the prosecution," she said.
She added, however, that an immediate expulsion would be difficult to carry out. "After watching how the investigation unfolds, it would be possible to pursue expulsion and other measures through a decision by the National Assembly's Special Ethics Committee," she said, adding that "even if expulsion proceedings were initiated now, I think the People Power Party side would largely go along with it."
On the nominee's past drunk-driving record, Kim said it was "clearly a mistake and not appropriate from the perspective of ordinary citizens." She noted, however, that he had received "what could be seen as a not particularly heavy sentence — a fine of 700,000 won ($520)" and said the matter had already been sufficiently disclosed through media coverage. "It would be good to see this as an opportunity for him to explain and account for it once more," she said.
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