Kim Seung-won, the nominee for Minister of Justice, stated on September 14 that he will address various allegations surrounding him during the upcoming confirmation hearing.
Arriving at the preparation office for the hearing in the Jeoksun Hyundai Building in Jongno, Seoul, around 8 a.m., Kim said, "I will do my best to prepare for the hearing today."
He expressed gratitude to those who offered condolences for the passing of a close family member, adding, "I hope the experience I have gained over 30 years as a legal professional, including as a judge and a member of the police human rights committee, will be valuable in establishing a new criminal justice system. I will do my best for the people."
Regarding the allegations of lobbying related to the approval of Genensel's COVID-19 treatment clinical trials, he responded, "I will explain everything tomorrow." He also refrained from commenting on the police investigation into the related allegations, stating, "I will provide a detailed response tomorrow."
When asked if he had considered resigning following the departure of Yong Hye-in from her position as Minister of Gender Equality and Family, he said, "This is not the right time to discuss that." He did not respond to concerns that the hearing could be ineffective due to the failure to select witnesses.
On his way to work, some YouTubers demanded explanations and apologies regarding the Genensel clinical trial allegations, but Kim did not respond and entered the office.
The National Assembly's Legislative and Judiciary Committee will hold the confirmation hearing for Kim on September 15, where key issues such as the lobbying allegations, collusion with current district judges, and favoritism related to the Family Cooperative are expected to be discussed.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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