Minister nominee Kim Seung-won's side claimed that the transcript of a call between broker Yang and former senior presidential secretary for political affairs Choi Jae-sung, presented as evidence of the "new drug lobbying allegation," is a "fabricated fake transcript." Independent lawmaker Han Dong-hoon, who first released the transcript, countered that it was "a self-defeating statement that only highlights the seriousness of the issue."
Kim's confirmation hearing prep team on the 10th criticized Han, saying he "keeps repeating false claims based on a fabricated transcript," and stated that "the court and prosecutors determined that the nominee's actions amounted only to requesting a fair review by the Ministery of Food and Drug Safety, making it difficult to see them as an illicit solicitation."
The prep team then compared and released the original transcript of the Oct. 8, 2010, conversation between Yang and former secretary Choi with the transcript made public by Han. Yang is suspected of having asked Kim in 2021 to seek approval for Genencell's new drug clinical trial, and a related trial is underway.
In the original transcript released by the prep team, Yang said, "Our professor (Genencell operator a person surnamed Kang)'s company is now waiting for approval from the Ministery of Food and Drug Safety. For the COVID matter. (omitted) Once that gets approved, the chairman can attract investment. It would be good if the approval comes out a bit faster. But at the Ministery of Food and Drug Safety they said, 'Oh, the numbers came out really well,' and then it got a bit delayed when the person in charge changed." In the transcript Han released, the part saying, "But at the Ministery of Food and Drug Safety they said, 'Oh, the numbers came out really well,'" is missing.
Regarding this exchange, the prep team argued that it "distorted Yang's simple request for confirmation into a solicitation for approval." They also said, "Han partially disclosed recorded content included in confidential investigation records and is claiming as if Kim, at Yang's request, exerted pressure for an unreasonable Ministery of Food and Drug Safety approval, and as if Yang was promised a reward for the solicitation by Kang," adding that "the released transcript maliciously twists the meaning of the conversation."
The original transcript released by the prep team also includes Yang saying he was told by Genencell CEO Kang, "From now on, don't ever go around talking about things like this; it could become a subject of a National Assembly audit (national audit)." Yang also speculated that Kim may have cautioned him through Kang.
Han said of the transcript released by Kim's side, "It contains the shocking claim that if the new drug is approved, Yang would take a commission and that, since that would make it subject to a National Assembly audit, Kim Seung-won told him to watch his mouth so such rumors wouldn't spread," adding, "This was content I didn't even disclose."
He continued, saying there is only a self-defeating position that raises doubts about judgment, such as claims that it was "a chance meeting," or that "Kim Seung-won's side thinks this helps them."