Kim Seung-won cites humanities background in deflecting COVID drug lobby allegations

Justice minister nominee Kim Seung-won said he regrets having too readily believed claims that a COVID-19 treatment could be supplied for around 100,000 won ($74), amid allegations that he lobbied for clinical trial approval of the drug. When pressed on controversies over the treatment's efficacy and alleged manipulation of animal trial data, he said, "I studied humanities — I have no way of knowing about such things."

Kim made the remarks Tuesday at his confirmation hearing before the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee, in response to a question from Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker Kim Han-gyu, who asked whether he would have handled the matter differently if he could go back.

On the COVID-19 treatment developed by Genencell, the pharmaceutical firm at the center of the lobbying allegations, Kim said he had been told the drug could be supplied for around 100,000 won, compared with 700,000 to 800,000 won for foreign treatments on the market.

He added that he wished he had directed his staff to handle the matter through official channels. He explained that at the time there had been a sense of urgency, as the country was mobilizing all available resources to develop COVID-19 treatments and vaccines.

When People Power Party lawmaker Kim Min-jeon raised the controversy over alleged manipulation of Genencell's animal trial data, Kim again invoked his humanities background, saying he had no way of assessing the treatment's efficacy.

"If I had known about that, I wouldn't even be here today — I would have had an arrest warrant sought against me or be on trial right now," he said. He added that a full review had found no improper solicitation on his part, and that prosecutors under former President Yoon Suk Yeol had issued a non-indictment decision, noting that the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety had conducted its review procedures fairly.

People Power Party lawmaker Yoon Sang-hyeon challenged Kim, saying, "When someone else does it, it's lobbying — but when you do it, it's just passing along a constituent complaint?" Yoon said he viewed the nominee not as having conveyed a matter of public interest, but as someone who was "too naive and good-natured" and had been exploited for private lobbying purposes.

Kim said that if confirmed as minister of justice, his first priority would be to meet with victims of stock price manipulation linked to Genencell.

When Yoon said that not knowing about the stock manipulation was not proof of innocence but proof of unfitness for the post, Kim said he could not agree 100 percent with that assessment. He acknowledged, however, that a single act by a public official can have far-reaching consequences and pledged to act with greater caution.

"If I become minister, I will meet first with those who suffered losses from the stock manipulation," Kim said. "I will look carefully into the pain they experienced and where it came from, pursue investigations against those responsible where needed, and examine what can be done to help them recover their losses."