Justice minister nominee apologizes for causing concern over alleged lobbying
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,…
Justice Minister nominee Kim Seung-won made an apology on Friday for the concern his alleged involvement in illegal lobbying for a new drug had caused the public. Despite his admission, Kim maintained his innocence and stated that he would provide a detailed explanation during his parliamentary confirmation hearing. As a two-term lawmaker from the ruling Democratic Party, Kim expressed sincere regret for the worry he had induced in the public.
He confronted accusations that he engaged in illegal lobbying of the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety in 2021 to secure approval for a COVID-19 treatment. The alleged lobbying occurred at the request of a broker, according to Kim. Kim described his actions as a public interest petition, stating that he sought to address the stalled clinical trial procedures of a small company due to pressure from a multinational corporation.
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