On the 4th, the People Power Party focused its firepower on an offensive against Minister of Gender Equality and Family Minister Yong Hye-in, who was mired in criticism for concurrently serving as a proportional representative lawmaker, and Minister of Justice Kim Seung-won, who was embroiled in suspicions of improper solicitation in relation to the approval of clinical trials for the development of COVID-19 new drugs.
The People Power Party criticized the two candidates as 'the last of Juan Muchi' and pressured President Lee Jae-myung, who holds personnel authority, to withdraw the nomination and apologize before additional suspicions arise.
◇ Additional suspicions regarding Kim Seung-won's 'involvement in unfair stock trading and collusion with judges'... “The place to go is the special prosecution suspect’s seat.”
The People Power Party strongly criticized candidate Kim's explanation of the suspicion of illegal solicitation for approval of clinical trials for the development of new drugs as "a simple transmission of public interest complaints," while asserting that the matter should be investigated by a special prosecutor, saying it is linked not only to 'illegal solicitation' but also to 'stockholders' involvement in unfair transactions' and 'suspicion of collusion with judges.'
Kim Mi-ae, senior deputy representative for floor policy, said at the meeting, "According to the released transcript, on October 7, 2021, when Mr. Yang, who was designated as the messenger of the request, asked to look into clinical trials by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, Candidate Kim replied, 'The moment it is approved by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, you can make hundreds of billions of won.' It seems that he knew that clinical approval would lead to enormous economic profits." “We have requested prompt processing from the Minister of Food and Drug Safety,” he said.
He continued, "A week after that, Sejong Medical invested 11.3 billion won in Genencell, and another week later, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety approved the clinical trial plan. After the news became known, Sejong Medical's stock price soared in the early hours of the market and fell to the lowest price, and 37% of the total issued shares were sold for two days. Afterwards, clinical trials for the treatment were halted, and the book value of the Genencell investment stake became 0 won." President Lee, who said that manipulating stock prices would be a ruin, said. “Let’s reveal the Kim Seung-won gate first,” he said.
Rep. Park Jeong-hoon also disclosed a public interest reporter's opinion submitted to the Seoul Western District Court by Mr. A, who worked as a consultant at the company of Ms. Yang, a female businesswoman who called candidate Kim "oppa" on social media, and Mr. Kang, the owner of Genencell, who was promoting the development of a COVID-19 treatment with Mr. Yang.
In his opinion, Mr. A argued, “In the process of executing the lobbying, (Mr. Kang) deposited 5 million won to Rep. Kim Seung-won’s side, but there are circumstances in which it failed due to exceeding the limit,” and added, “This is a clear expression of intention to actually pay the price and the start of the implementation, so the value of the compensation must be recognized.”
Regarding Sejong Medical, the largest shareholder of Genemcell, an unlisted bio company that Candidate Kim filed a clinical complaint with the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, Mr. A appealed, saying, “The losses of individual investors who believed the disclosures to be true and participated in the investment should never be overlooked,” and added, “About 700 minority shareholders are hoping for severe punishment for the defendants.”
Independent lawmaker Han Dong-hoon, who is focusing on Candidate Kim's allegations of illegal lobbying, linked to the attached article of Rep. Park's 'Public Interest Reporter Opinion' and wrote, "Are Democratic Party Lee Jae-myeong's 'public interest complaints' 'crime complaints'?" and "Rotten politics must be overthrown."
Rep. Park Hyeong-soo, the opposition secretary on the Legislation and Judiciary Committee of the National Assembly, said, "It is not in line with the public's expectations for a person who is responsible for the legislation that abolished the prosecution's supplementary investigative power, but who himself received a suspended indictment on charges of promising bribes, to serve as Minister of Justice." He added, "Candidate Kim should carefully judge his future even now."
Chief Spokesperson Park Chung-kwon commented, “The only place Candidate Kim can go is the special prosecutor’s stand.”
◇ Yong Hye-in said, “The target of ridicule for being a privileged person… lurking behind ‘left-wing organizations’ that pose a threat to liberal democracy.”
The People Power Party poured crossfire on Candidate Yong and repeatedly urged him to withdraw his nomination.
Kim Mi-ae, senior vice-president of the National Assembly Policy Committee, brought up a photo of Candidate Yong during the 'No Work, Yes Money' movement in 2017 and 2019 and said, "Some people work hard and pay taxes, but we cannot entrust the position of the State Councilor of the Republic of Korea to a politician who shouts for money even if he does not work without taking responsibility."
Secretary-General Jeong Hee-yong also said, "Candidate Yong is becoming the target of ridicule as a 'family income party' and a 'privileged person' amidst endless controversy," and added, "Don't test the patience of the people anymore and immediately withdraw his nomination."
Rep. Kang Seon-young, the opposition secretary of the National Assembly Gender Equality and Family Committee, said, "South Korea is still a divided country, and there is a force called North Korea that threatens the liberal democracy of the Republic of Korea." He added, "Yong Hye-in is really just the president of a leftist organization, and we are gradually confirming that there is an old leftist organization lurking behind it that threatens the liberal democratic system in secret."
Policy Committee Chairman Lim I-ja said, "The public's evaluation of Kim Seung-won, who was involved in corruption in graft, and Yong Hye-in, a family party with a monopoly on preferential treatment, is already over. They are the end of Juan Muchi," and added, "President Lee must withdraw his nomination by the end of this week."
Spokesperson Cho Yong-sul said in a comment, "I ask President Lee. Did he turn a blind eye to the issue of Candidate Yong's qualifications, or did he not even verify it? At this point, it is common sense for President Lee to step forward and immediately withdraw the nomination."
