Minister nominee Kim Seung-won of the Ministry of Justice will face vetting at a National Assembly confirmation hearing on the 15th. Major issues include the "Genencell allegations," a judge's son working in the nominee's parliamentary office, a social cooperative in which family members worked, prosecutorial reform, and the question of canceling indictments in President Lee Jae-myung's criminal cases. The 44 witnesses and four reference witnesses requested by the People Power Party were not adopted due to a failure to reach a bipartisan agreement.
Kim, a former judge serving a second term as a lawmaker, led reforms of the criminal justice system, including separating investigation and indictment, as the ruling party secretary on The National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee.
◇ Genencell lobbying and promised donation allegations as the biggest flashpoint
The biggest flashpoint is the approval process for Genencell's clinical trials for a COVID-19 treatment. In 2021, at the request of a person surnamed Yang, Kim contacted then Ministery of Food and Drug Safety Commissioner Kim Kang-lip to ask that the clinical trial application be reviewed quickly.
In Dec. 2024, the Seoul Western District Prosecutors' Office acknowledged allegations that Kim promised to receive 5 million won in political donations in return for handling a petition, but deferred indictment, citing factors including that no money actually changed hands. Kim denied making any promise of donations and filed a constitutional complaint.
Whether there was preferential treatment is also in dispute. Oh Yu-Kyoung, the Ministery of Food and Drug Safety commissioner, said the average review period for 45 COVID-19 treatments at the time was 10 days and Genencell's took 11 days, indicating there was no favoritism.
◇ Judge's son, family cooperative, and false residency also under scrutiny
Another issue is how the son of the judge who dismissed the first arrest warrant for Genencell's founder came to work as a legislative aide in Kim's office for about three months the following year. Kim's side said he underwent a normal interview process and that the warrant dismissal had nothing to do with his hiring.
Allegations of family favoritism also arose regarding a social cooperative for caring for people with developmental disabilities, where the spouse served as center head and the children worked. The nominee's side countered that the cooperative was designated through Suwon City's open call and review for service providers for activity services for people with developmental disabilities, and that family members actually worked there. False residency for children's education, the spouse's omission in reporting inherited assets, and a 2008 drunk driving record are also subject to scrutiny.
◇ Prosecutorial reform and indictment cancellations also in dispute
Political neutrality and the direction of prosecutorial reform are also key issues. Kim served as co-chair of the "lawmakers' group to push for canceling indictments in President Lee Jae-myung's cases and for a parliamentary investigation." However, after being nominated as Minister, he said the Minister of the Ministry of Justice does not have the authority to directly cancel indictments in individual cases and that he has no intention of pushing for indictment cancellations through directives to investigators.
The Democratic Party assesses that Kim is the right person to conclude prosecutorial reform, given he has led criminal justice system overhauls such as separating investigation and indictment. The People Power Party, on the other hand, is calling for the withdrawal of the nomination, citing various controversies including the Genencell allegations and issues of political neutrality.
After the hearing, attention will turn to whether The National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee adopts the confirmation hearing report. The Minister of the Ministry of Justice does not require the National Assembly's consent for appointment, so the president can appoint the nominee even if the report is not adopted.