South Korea reopens investigation into justice minister nominee
South Korean police have reopened an investigation into justice minister nominee Kim Seung-won over allegations that he illegally lobbied for approval of clinical trials of a COVID-19 treatment in 2021. This was reported by The Korea Herald, citing sources.
Case assigned to a police station in Seoul
On September 8, the case was assigned to the Yeongdeungpo District police station in Seoul. Following a legal review, law enforcement officers are expected to question the complainants.
Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency chief Ko Beom-seok told reporters the previous day that the case could be reinvestigated based on a complaint filed by a civic group last week.
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Previous investigation
Kim Seung-won is a two-term lawmaker. President Lee Jae-myung nominated him for the post of justice minister in late August.
According to the allegations, at the request of an intermediary, Kim asked the then minister of food and drug safety to expedite approval of clinical trials for a COVID-19 drug. The previous investigation ended in 2024 without formal charges: prosecutors concluded that the request could not unequivocally be regarded as illegal lobbying. The nominee denies wrongdoing and says he did not make illegal requests to the then minister.
