▲ Justice Minister nominee Kim Seung-won speaks to reporters as he arrives at his office in central Seoul on Sept. 7, 2026. (Yonhap)

SEOUL, Sept. 7 (Yonhap) -- Justice Minister nominee Kim Seung-won on Monday denied illegally lobbying for a COVID-19 treatment in 2021, while acknowledging he should have been more careful in his request over the medication at the time.

Kim has faced accusations of unlawful solicitation for allegedly asking the then food and drug safety minister to speed up the treatment's clinical trial approval at a broker's request.

"I take seriously the fact that I should have been more careful in conveying the request," Kim told reporters. "I never made an illegal solicitation to the food and drug ministry, and its review was not unfairly conducted as a result."

He also noted the prosecution's deferral of his indictment when they examined the case. Prosecutors previously dropped the case after determining Kim's request could not be definitively found as illegal solicitation.

Kim's side earlier described his request as simply delivering a public interest grievance to prevent the treatment's trial from being delayed, adding that he did not receive any political donation or valuables in return.

Kim has faced mounting pressure over the allegations, with independent Rep. Han Dong-hoon releasing alleged recordings between Kim and a broker about lobbying for the treatment.

Kim accused Han of leaking investigative material in a politically motivated attack, questioning how he obtained the material and demanding that he appear at his confirmation hearing.

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