Seoul: Justice Minister nominee Kim Seung-won on Monday denied allegations of illegal lobbying for a COVID-19 treatment in 2021, while acknowledging he should have been more careful in his request over the medication at the time. Kim, a two-term lawmaker, has faced accusations of unlawful solicitation for allegedly asking the then food and drug safety minister to speed up the treatment's clinical trial approval at a broker's request.

According to Yonhap News Agency, Kim stated, "I take seriously the fact that I should have been more careful in conveying the request." He insisted that he never made an illegal solicitation to the food and drug ministry and that the review of the treatment was not conducted unfairly as a result. Kim explained that his communication with the food and drug safety minister was aimed at preventing any undue delay in the clinical trial process, emphasizing that COVID-19 treatments were being expedited during the pandemic.

Furthermore, Kim pointed out that prosecutors had deferred his indictment after examining the case. The decision not to formally charge Kim was based on the determination that his request did not constitute illegal solicitation. He remarked, "Prosecutors acknowledged there was no unlawful solicitation or distorting a fair review through its investigation result," and noted that neither the minister nor the public officials involved were charged.

The nominee faces increasing pressure due to the allegations, particularly following the release of alleged recordings by independent Rep. Han Dong-hoon, which reportedly feature conversations between Kim and a broker discussing lobbying efforts for the treatment. Kim accused Rep. Han of leaking investigative material as part of a politically motivated attack and questioned the source of Han's information, urging him to appear at the confirmation hearing to address the accusations.