Justice Minister nominee Kim Seung-won requested the head of the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety to check on the progress of clinical trial approval for a pharmaceutical company CEO who had applied for approval of a COVID-19 treatment while serving as a Democratic Party lawmaker. Later, Kim was asked by the pharmaceutical company CEO to donate 5 million won, but the actual transfer did not take place because it exceeded the donation limit. The Seoul Western District Prosecutors' Office decided to suspend prosecution of Kim, considering that there was no direct exchange of money between Kim and the pharmaceutical company CEO and it was difficult to determine the illegality of the request. Kim filed a constitutional petition, arguing that the disposition was wrong. Meanwhile, the nominee's personnel hearing preparation team argued that it was not a solicitation but a transmission of public interest petitions, emphasizing the legitimacy of the non-prosecution disposition.
