Independent lawmaker Han Dong-hoon is stepping up attacks over allegations that Justice Minister nominee Kim Seung-won lobbied for approval of a pharmaceutical clinical trial. He also said he would release additional audio recordings of conversations between Kim and a broker surnamed Yang.
On the 6th, Han said on Facebook, "It seems like Yang and Kim's side are claiming that just two text messages to the media were the whole thing, but that is a lie," adding, "Even just on Oct. 12, 2021, before the favor-seeking texts were exchanged among Kim, Yang and then-Minister of Food and Drug Safety Kim Gang-lip, there were blatant, illegal phone calls."
He added, "After receiving the 'Kim Seung-won request,' what did the Minister of Food and Drug Safety do, and what conversations did the broker Yang and Kim have just before that? I will soon disclose this for the public interest," saying, "The Democratic Party's politics right now is bad politics that represents a room salon 'little sister' broker, not victims of stock manipulation."
Han called the allegations against Kim a "second Cho Kuk scandal." He continued, "The 'oppa poison-lobby' is not just about Kim Seung-won," and released an image showing in Feb. 2021 a related company head explaining a drug to then-leader Lee Nak-yon and other Democratic Party leadership. Han said, "(That is why) the Democratic Party is going all-out, calling it a 'good deed' and a 'public-interest petition.'"
He said, "This lobbying succeeded, as Minister of Food and Drug Safety Kim Gang-lip did not dismiss it but relayed it to the responsible official, and the minister's secretary also sent a text to the responsible Director saying, 'The minister asked that this kind of talk not come up again from next time.'"