Possibility of Reinvestigation into Allegations of Solicitation for a New Drug Involving Former Ministerial Nominee Kim Seung-won

As former Justice Minister nominee Kim Seungwon stepped down amid suspicions that he had lobbied for approval of a clinical trial for a new COVID19 drug, attention is turning to whether the police will revisit the existing case. The Yeongdeungpo Police Station in Seoul has been assigned the related case, which prosecutors previously chose not to indict, and is reviewing whether to reopen the investigation. According to the prosecution's investigation records, Kim sent a text message to the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety at the request of a female business owner who acted as a broker, asking them to process approval for the clinical trial of the new drug quickly. The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety later approved the company's clinical trial, and after reviewing whether he had expected compensation, prosecutors decided not to indict him on charges of promising to arrange bribery. Separately, reports also emerged that a petition from a former aide containing additional allegations, including covering up sexual harassment, additional drunk driving, abusive language and verbal abuse, and other solicitations, had been delivered. Kim's side countered that the allegations were either untrue or exaggerated.