Controversy 8 Key Verification Issues Surrounding Kim Seung-won

Verification issues regarding the past conduct and legal compliance of Justice Minister Nominee Kim Seung-won continue to emerge, including allegations of requesting to expedite COVID-19 treatment clinical trial approval, prosecution with suspended indictment disposition, suspected accounting irregularities at the Democratic Party's Gyeonggi Province branch, history of drunk driving, and efforts to withdraw prosecution in the Lee Jae-myung presidential case.

1. Request to Expedite COVID-19 Treatment Clinical Trial Approval and Prosecution with Suspended Indictment

As a first-term Democratic Party member in October 2021, Nominee Kim received a request from acquaintance Yang from an individual to help expedite the approval of clinical trial plans for a COVID-19 treatment drug being developed by Genencell.

On October 12, Nominee Kim called Kim Gang-lip, then head of the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, and subsequently sent a text message to the person in charge requesting that they handle the matter promptly. The answer from Kim, the ministry head, was relayed to Yang. The ministry approved the clinical trial plan on October 26.

According to prosecution investigation records, Nominee Kim told Yang that if things worked out well, he could receive campaign contributions up to his maximum limit. Kang, the founder of Genencell, attempted to contribute 5 million won, but the contribution was not actually deposited as Nominee Kim's contribution limit had been reached.

In December 2024, the prosecution issued Nominee Kim a suspended indictment disposition. A suspended indictment is a prosecution's non-prosecution disposition and is not a guilty verdict from a court. Nominee Kim claimed that he merely relayed public interest grievances and that there was no favoritism in the approval process. He also filed a constitutional petition claiming the suspended indictment disposition was unjust.

2. Allegations of Personal Acquaintance with Judge Handling Search Warrant in New Drug Case

A photograph taken together with Nominee Kim and broker Yang was disclosed, featuring Judge Jung from the Seoul Western District Court who dismissed the first arrest warrant for Kang, a person involved in the new drug case.

The opposition party claims that Nominee Kim introduced Judge Jung to Yang as a close junior and that the three socialized together. Reports also emerged that the prosecution requested Judge Jung be excluded from the warrant review due to his personal relationship with Nominee Kim, but the request was not accepted. After Judge Jung dismissed the first warrant, the second warrant was granted by another judge.

Nominee Kim countered that although the prosecution investigated the related matters for three years, no improper solicitation or provision of favors was confirmed. Whether the personal relationship between Nominee Kim and Judge Jung influenced the warrant decision has not been confirmed.

3. Allegations of Accounting Irregularities and Slush Funds at Democratic Party Gyeonggi Province Branch

Allegations have been raised that the Democratic Party's Gyeonggi Province branch, where Nominee Kim served as chairman, reported political fund expenditures differently from their actual intended use and received salary portions from party staff to be operated in unreported accounts.

The Gyeonggi Province branch received approximately 45 million won paid to four party staff members as salaries in 2025 and operated these funds as operational expenses in unreported accounts without notifying the election commission.

Cases were also confirmed where the Gyeonggi Province branch reported the cost of Korean traditional snack sets purchased from a Korean snack shop in Suwon as hospitality expenses. Korean snack set purchases occurred six times, with four of them each costing 690,000 won. It has not been confirmed to whom the snack sets were provided.

The Gyeonggi Province branch explained that the funds were used for operational expenses, supporting documentation was available, and the matter was not flagged in the central party audit. Nominee Kim also stated that the matter had been concluded as having no issues in the central party audit.

The Central Election Management Commission stated that it could be illegal if money reported as salary was used for other purposes, and the Gyeonggi Province Election Management Commission launched a fact-checking investigation following news reports.

4. Fine for Drunk Driving Shortly After Retiring as Judge

Nominee Kim retired from his position as a judge at the Suwon District Court in February 2008. Approximately five months after retirement, in July of that year, he was sentenced to a fine of 700,000 won for drunk driving at the Suwon District Court.

As it did not meet the Democratic Party's criteria for excluding candidates from party endorsement for the 21st and 22nd general elections, he received party endorsement in both the 2020 and 2024 general elections. The Public Official Election Act sets the disclosure threshold for certain criminal records at 1 million won or higher in fines, so his criminal record was listed as non-existent in election campaign materials for both general elections.

Criticism of double standards emerged as it became known that Nominee Kim received records from the Korean Bar Association in 2022 regarding the disciplinary status of lawyers with drunk driving histories and emphasized the establishment of lawyer ethics.

5. History of Pursuing Withdrawal of Prosecution in President Lee Jae-myung Case

In January 2026, Nominee Kim held a press conference with Democratic Party members from the Gyeonggi region and argued that prosecution in President Lee Jae-myung's case should be withdrawn.

In February of that year, he also served as co-chair of the "Members' Group for Pursuing Withdrawal of Prosecution and National Assembly Investigation into President Lee Jae-myung's Case" that was launched.

In a March broadcast, he stated that the Justice Minister should exercise directive authority to withdraw prosecution in the North Korea remittance case.

The opposition party claims that Nominee Kim's nomination is a personnel decision with the withdrawal of prosecution in the president's trial in mind.

However, after being nominated as Justice Minister candidate, Nominee Kim stated that the decision to maintain prosecution in individual cases is the responsibility of the handling prosecutor and that he has no intention of exercising the minister's directive authority.

6. 'GSGG' Expression Aimed at National Assembly Speaker Park Byeong-seok

On August 31, 2021, when processing of the media arbitration law amendment bill was delayed, Nominee Kim wrote on Facebook, "Thank you very much, Park Byeong-seok. This will be remembered in history. GSGG."

Faced with criticism that he had expressed profanity using English initials, he revised the post and explained that 'GSGG' was an abbreviation of an English phrase meaning that leaders must serve the general will of the people.

On the same day, Nominee Kim visited former Speaker Park and apologized. Former Speaker Park reportedly expressed disappointment and admonished him.

7. Controversy Over Fair Candidate Endorsement at Democratic Party Gyeonggi Province Branch

During the local elections when Nominee Kim was chairman of the Democratic Party Gyeonggi Province branch, questions were raised about alleged "family-related endorsement" and responsibility for endorsing a candidate known for "crude remarks."

The Democratic Party Gyeonggi Province branch assigned candidate Seo In-ha to the No. 1 proportional representative position for Gyeonggi Province councilor after a three-person primary selection process in the youth sector. Subsequently, there were online claims suggesting that political connections influenced the endorsement based on candidate Seo's family relationships and experience working at a congressional office.

In Suwon Gap, Nominee Kim's electoral district (Jang-an District and surrounding areas in Suwon), questions arose regarding the endorsement of a candidate who made insulting and sexually inappropriate remarks, leading to calls for withdrawal of the endorsement, a party-level investigation, and an apology from Nominee Kim, who was chairman of the Gyeonggi Province branch at the time.

The lawmaker argued that the controversial remarks violated Democratic Party ethical standards and candidate evaluation regulations, urging Nominee Kim, then chairman of the Gyeonggi Province branch, to apologize and convene an steering committee meeting.

8. Vehicle Seizure Due to Unpaid Parking Violation Fines

Three seizures were registered on Nominee Kim's Carnival vehicle on July 31, 2025, due to unpaid parking violation fines. The seizure request was made by the Jang-an District Office of Suwon.

It is known that the vehicle seizure was listed as unresolved in the personnel hearing request submitted to the National Assembly.

The opposition party criticized that the prospective Justice Minister, who would oversee law enforcement, lacks awareness of legal compliance.