Kim Seung-won, the nominee for Minister of Justice, has taken a step back from his previous hardline stance regarding the dismissal of charges against President Lee Jae-myung, while actively defending himself against allegations of lobbying related to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This approach is seen as a strategy to manage political controversy with humility while swiftly addressing personal allegations tied to his morality.
On September 3, Kim's confirmation hearing preparation team issued a statement addressing suspicions surrounding the approval of clinical trial plans for COVID-19 treatments, asserting, "We only conveyed public interest complaints."
The team explained, "At the time, there was an urgent need for the development of COVID-19 vaccines and treatments, and we requested that the clinical trial procedures for domestic small and medium-sized enterprises not be unduly delayed," denying any requests for expedited approvals, relaxed standards, or procedural omissions.
The former FDA Commissioner reportedly stated that the request was something a member of the National Assembly could make. Additionally, seven FDA employees have testified that there were no special instructions or reports from the Commissioner.
The preparation team emphasized that the prosecution's decision not to indict acknowledged that the request itself was not illegal, and no unusual regulations or manual violations were found during the FDA review process. They also stated that Kim had not received any political donations or gifts.
The allegations arose after Kim received a request in 2021 from a representative of a small business to expedite the approval process for COVID-19 treatment clinical trials, leading him to send a related message to the FDA Commissioner. It was later revealed that the business representatives attempted to provide Kim with an official political donation of 5 million won, but the transfer was not completed due to exceeding the limit.
After an investigation involving 11 prosecutors over nearly three years, the prosecution decided to defer prosecution for Kim. Deferred prosecution is a decision not to pursue charges despite acknowledging the allegations, which differs from a finding of no wrongdoing.
Kim's team has argued that the factual and legal basis for this decision was flawed and filed a constitutional complaint last year. They also pointed out that the investigation was conducted under the leadership of Minister of Justice Han Dong-hoon and Prosecutor General Lee Won-seok, asserting that claims of leniency are unfounded.
This response contrasts with Kim's cautious stance on the issue of charge dismissal. While he had previously strongly advocated for the dismissal of charges against President Lee as a member of the Democratic Party, he stated on his way to work that "the decision to maintain charges is the prerogative of the trial prosecutor" and that he has no intention of reviewing the minister's authority.
Legal experts believe that Kim's softened position on the charge dismissal controversy may be an attempt to avoid political neutrality and backlash from the prosecution. In relation to the FDA allegations, it is analyzed that he has adopted a 'two-track' strategy to actively clarify the facts before the confirmation hearing, as it directly relates to his morality.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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