Seoul: Rival parties clashed Tuesday over allegations surrounding Justice Minister nominee Kim Seung-won during his parliamentary confirmation hearing, including claims that he illegally lobbied authorities for a COVID-19 treatment in 2021.
According to Yonhap News Agency, lawmakers of the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) questioned whether Kim is fit to serve as justice minister, citing a series of phone conversation transcripts and recordings between the nominee and a broker released by independent lawmaker Han Dong-hoon. Han has accused Kim of exercising undue influence on the food and drug safety ministry by asking the then-minister to speed up the treatment's clinical trial approval at the broker's request.
Kim denied the allegations, calling for an investigation into how internal records related to the case ended up in Han's hands. "We need to clarify how confidential documents from the prosecution were leaked to former minister Han Dong-hoon," Kim said. He also pledged to prevent investigative information from being used for political purposes if appointed justice minister, saying he would look into whether confidential prosecution materials involving other cases had also been leaked.
Lawmakers of the ruling Democratic Party accused Han of leaking investigative materials in a politically motivated attack, questioning how he obtained information known to a limited number of people within the prosecution. "I apologize for causing concern to the public over allegations surrounding me," Kim said in his opening remarks. "I will faithfully answer each lawmaker's questions today and explain in detail any claims that are inconsistent with the facts."
The hearing got off to a rocky start even before lawmakers began questioning Kim, as rival parties exchanged barbs over allegations involving a social cooperative for people with developmental disabilities where Kim's wife and his children work. Kim, with tears in his eyes, denied that the cooperative had received preferential treatment in its selection as a service provider by the Suwon city government, stressing that his son worked at the organization to care for people with developmental disabilities and that it was not for any financial gain.
The PPP had requested 44 witnesses and four reference witnesses for Kim's confirmation hearing, but the DP rejected the requests. The National Assembly also held confirmation hearings for Finance Minister nominee Lee Hyoung-il and Lee So-young, the nominee for minister for small and medium-sized enterprises, both of whom face separate controversies over real estate issues. Cabinet nominees are subject to parliamentary confirmation hearings, but their appointments do not require parliamentary approval.