Anti-graft office questions complainant in drug-trial lobbying case against Kim Seung-won
In short
South Korea's Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) on Oct 8 questioned a whistleblower surnamed Cho who accused Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Seung-won (김승원) of abuse of authority, offering bribes to a third party and bribery through mediation. Kim is alleged to have contacted the then head of the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety in 2021, at a broker's request, about clinical trial approval for drugmaker Jenensel (제넨셀). Kim denies wrongdoing; an appeals court on Sept 30 found that the drugmaker's founder sought the approval through Kim and paid 600 million won to the broker's side.
Read the full story 2 min read
South Korea's Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) on Oct 8 questioned the person who filed a criminal complaint against Kim Seung-won (김승원), a Democratic Party lawmaker, over alleged lobbying of the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety for a clinical trial approval. The CIO's Investigation Division 1, headed by Na Chang-soo (나창수), summoned the complainant, surnamed Cho, on the afternoon of Oct 8; Hankook Ilbo and Newsis reported the questioning began at 1 p.m. Cho, a whistleblower, accused Kim of abuse of authority, offering bribes to a third party and bribery through mediation. The CIO received the complaint on Sept 28 and assigned it to Investigation Division 1 two days later. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
In the complaint, Cho asked the CIO to examine how and when Kim contacted then ministry head Kim Gang-lip (김강립) and other officials, how that contact affected the review of the trial, and whether Kim was promised money or had it given to a third party. Chosun Ilbo reported the complaint said the case risked being left unattended while the prosecution service is abolished and its cases transferred. Yonhap reported that Cho, during questioning, cited the recent appeals court ruling against the drugmaker's founder and argued for a strict investigation, including whether a third-party bribery charge applies. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Kim is alleged to have contacted Kim Gang-lip in 2021, at the request of broker Yang Su-jin (양수진), about approval of a clinical trial by drugmaker Jenensel (제넨셀); Yonhap, Chosun Ilbo and Newsis said the product was a COVID-19 treatment. Chosun Ilbo reported that Kim asked for the approval to be sped up and sought 5 million won in political donations in return, but that no money was delivered because his donation account had reached its limit. Kim denies the allegations, saying he only passed on a civil complaint. Chosun Ilbo quoted him as saying he did not know the treatment's efficacy because he studied humanities. Newsis reported that released recordings suggested Kim knew trial approval would bring large financial gains. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
The Seoul Western District Prosecutors' Office suspended Kim's indictment in December 2024, saying it was hard to conclude the request was illegal, according to Hankook Ilbo and Newsis; Chosun Ilbo reported prosecutors charged Yang and Jenensel founder Kang Se-chan (강세찬). On Sept 30 the Seoul High Court sentenced Kang, a Kyung Hee University professor, to four years in prison and a 40 million won fine and took him into custody; Chosun Ilbo said he had received a suspended sentence at first instance. The court found Kang sought the approval through Kim via Yang and paid 600 million won to Yang's side, which Yonhap said was framed as an investment. Chosun Ilbo reported the ruling said Kim cooperated knowing new drug development involved large financial gains. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Kim was nominated Justice Minister in late August, according to Chosun Ilbo, and withdrew after the confirmation hearing as allegations mounted; Newsis said he stepped down 20 days after his nomination and that no new nominee has been named. [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]
Why it matters
The questioning marks the start of a CIO investigation into a lawmaker whom prosecutors declined to indict in December 2024 and who withdrew as Justice Minister nominee amid the allegations. The complainant is relying on the appeals court ruling against the drugmaker's founder to argue that a third-party bribery charge should be examined.
Key facts
- The CIO's Investigation Division 1, headed by Na Chang-soo (나창수), questioned complainant Cho on the afternoon of Oct 8. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- Cho accused Kim of abuse of authority, offering bribes to a third party and bribery through mediation. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- The CIO received the complaint on Sept 28 and assigned it to Investigation Division 1 two days later. [ 1 , 3 ]
- Kim is alleged to have contacted then food and drug safety chief Kim Gang-lip (김강립) in 2021 about clinical trial approval for Jenensel, at the request of broker Yang Su-jin (양수진). [ 1 , 2 , 4 ]
- Kim has acknowledged contacting the ministry head but says he was passing on a civil complaint, not making a request for favours. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- The Seoul Western District Prosecutors' Office suspended Kim's indictment in December 2024. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- On Sept 30 the Seoul High Court sentenced Jenensel founder Kang Se-chan (강세찬) to four years in prison and a 40 million won fine and took him into custody. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Kim withdrew as nominee for Justice Minister. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- The CIO's Investigation Division 1 questioned complainant Cho on Oct 8. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- Cho's complaint accuses Kim of abuse of authority, offering bribes to a third party and bribery through mediation. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- The complaint was filed on Sept 28. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Prosecutors suspended Kim's indictment in December 2024. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- An appeals court on Sept 30 sentenced Jenensel founder Kang to four years in prison and found the trial approval was sought through Kim, with 600 million won paid to the broker's side. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Kim says he contacted the ministry head but only to pass on a civil complaint. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
Still unclear
- Whether Kim sought 5 million won in political donations in return for the contact. Reported only by Chosun Ilbo.
- Whether Kim's contact was a request for favours or a civil complaint. Kim says it was a civil complaint; the appeals court in Kang's case described it as a request made through Kim, and prosecutors said it was hard to conclude it was illegal.
- Whether released recordings show Kim knew of the financial gains from approval. Reported only by Newsis.