[Edaily BAEK JU-A Reporter Kim Hyun-jae] Kim Seung-won, nominee for Minister of Justice, was questioned during a National Assembly confirmation hearing on the 15th about allegations of fabricated experimental data related to GenenCell’s COVID-19 treatment—a matter regarding which he had previously submitted a public complaint to the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety. In response, he stated, “I have a liberal arts background. I have no way of knowing about its efficacy.”

During the hearing that day, Rep. Kim Min-jeon of the People Power Party acknowledged that one might have intended to contribute to public health by developing a treatment during the COVID-19 pandemic, but asked, “Now, regarding that GenenCell treatment—the one the nominee texted the Ministry about—the animal test data was also fabricated, and fabricated data was submitted to the Ministry. Isn’t this confirmed by a court ruling?”

Nominee Kim replied, “The petition I submitted was a request to review the fairness of the procedures.” When Rep. Kim pressed further, asking, “You could have done that back then. But hasn’t this been exposed now?” Nominee Kim responded, “Representative, I’m a humanities major.”

He went on to explain, essentially stating, “I have no way of knowing about the product’s performance; this was a matter verified by the relevant MFDS officials and the advisory committee and initiated after undergoing the clinical trial approval process.” He added, “It is not within my realm of judgment.”

Representative Kim pressed him further, saying, “This is in the court ruling. It’s there—why are you saying you don’t know about it?” Nominee Kim replied, “I have had absolutely no involvement in this matter since I submitted the complaint on October 12, 2021.”

When Rep. Kim pointed out that the court ruling stated there were also problems with the clinical trials conducted in India, Nominee Kim countered that if he had known about such matters, he would have had an arrest warrant issued against him or been standing trial. He also argued that although the prosecution had investigated, there was no evidence of his involvement, and the decision not to indict stated that there were no improper solicitations and that the MFDS procedures had been conducted fairly.

Earlier, during a question-and-answer session with Rep. Kwak Gyu-taek of the People Power Party, Candidate Kim emphasized that the information he conveyed to the MFDS was not a request for approval of the clinical trial itself, but rather a complaint asking the agency to verify whether there had been any delays in the process.

Nominee Kim explained that at the time, he had heard from Mr. Yang, a broker and acquaintance, that the clinical trial approval process was being delayed due to interference from a multinational corporation, and he simply relayed that information. He said, “After that, I never received any reports from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety regarding further phone calls or the status of the clinical trial approval,” adding, “I believe my role was limited to conveying that complaint, and that was the end of it.”

Rep. Kim also raised the issue of accountability, citing the sharp fluctuations in Sejong Medical’s stock price. Rep. Kim said, “Even if you claim you were in a state of complete innocence and knew nothing, and that all you did was send a single text message asking for the process to be expedited,” stock price manipulation still occurred, and asked, “Doesn’t that mean you’re responsible?”

Nominee Kim replied, “If I become Minister of Justice, I will meet with the victims and work to help them recover their losses.” He went on to emphasize that he has advocated for strict punishment of stock price manipulation since his first term in office, stating, “I will meet with the victims. I will listen to their voices. I will devise solutions.”

Meanwhile, Nominee Kim was investigated by prosecutors on suspicion that, in 2021, at the request of an acquaintance, Ms. Yang, he asked Kim Kang-rip, then head of the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, to expedite approval for Genencell’s COVID-19 treatment clinical trial and, in return, agreed to receive a political donation of 5 million won. No actual donation was made, and in December 2024, prosecutors granted Candidate Kim a suspended indictment. Candidate Kim, arguing that he merely conveyed a public-interest complaint, has filed a constitutional appeal challenging the decision.