'2021 national audit ... caught red-handed lobbying,' Ahn says

Rep. Ahn Cheol-soo of the People Power Party moves to hold a press conference on a current issue at the National Assembly press center in Yeouido, Seoul, on the morning of Aug. 12. (Lee Sang-sub/The Korea Herald)
Rep. Ahn Cheol-soo of the People Power Party moves to hold a press conference on a current issue at the National Assembly press center in Yeouido, Seoul, on the morning of Aug. 12. (Lee Sang-sub/The Korea Herald)

Rep. Ahn Cheol-soo of the People Power Party claimed Thursday that justice minister nominee Kim Seung-won "was swayed by a broker and went in and out lobbying senior civil servants." He said Kim did so instead of focusing on the National Assembly's annual audit of state affairs. Ahn called the audit "a time meant to assess the government's performance and deliver the public's voice once a year."

Ahn made the remarks in a Facebook post that day, writing, "This alone negates a public official's reason for being. Let alone minister, he does not even qualify to be a lawmaker."

"As recordings of phone calls between justice minister nominee Kim Seung-won and a broker identified as Yang, along with other people involved, have been reported, the lobbying allegations are proving to be true," Ahn said. "But the Democratic Party and nominee Kim, seeking to prove his innocence, released the full transcript of the recorded calls between him and Yang from Oct. 12, 2021."

"A record of Kim's contacts with his aides and the head of the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety to secure clinical trial approval was also subsequently reported," Ahn added. "But comparing the timing of the calls Kim disclosed with the National Assembly's schedule, he was making calls to seek favors while reports and questioning were underway during the national audit."

Ahn disclosed that Kim spoke by phone with Yang before the 10 a.m. start of the National Assembly Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee's national audit on Oct. 12, 2021. During the call, Kim promised to relay a request to the head of the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety. He then left his seat during the audit to contact the ministry head, and again exchanged texts and calls with Yang.

"Footage from the National Assembly's broadcast that day clearly shows nominee Kim checking a text message from the head of the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety on his phone as he returned to his seat after finishing his call with Yang," Ahn said. "Even after that, Kim continued exchanging texts with Yang and the ministry head from his seat. What else could this be but the picture of a shabby lobbying scheme caught red-handed?"


mp1256@heraldcorp.com