Kim Seung-won Hearing, 'Hamster Gate' Controversy

He criticized Representative Seo Young-kyo's biased conduct during the hearing and praised the opposition lawmakers for performing well under difficult circumstances. Former Governor Kim viewed this incident as a disturbance of national order and judged Kim Seung-won unsuitable for minister.

In contrast, opposition lawmakers such as Kim Min-jeon and Kim Tae-woo showed cynical reactions, displaying a stark difference in atmosphere. Former Governor Kim Young-hwan commented that the public might have felt 'unfazed' by such a situation.

Former Governor Kim criticized that a national institution responsible for food safety in Korea was shaken so easily.

The number of victims injected with hamster poison, initially reported as 73, increased to 109. Former Governor Kim defined the essence of this issue as a chain of events connecting 'Hamster Gate,' 'Brother Gate,' and 'Stock Price Manipulation Gate.'

Former Governor Kim asserted that the hidden cartel behind this situation must be thoroughly investigated and emphasized the urgency of resolving the issues of national institutional incompetence and the poisons injected into the public's veins.

Regarding Kim Seung-won's tearful opening statement, former Governor Kim Young-hwan commented that the nominee seemed consistently emotional. Former Governor Kim pointed out that despite the fact of animal experiment manipulation already being stated in court rulings, the nominee's remark, 'Congressman, I am a liberal arts major,' was a very dangerous and irresponsible statement.

As a former dentist, former Governor Kim stated he was well-acquainted with the issue as the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety is located in Osong, Chungcheong Province, and emphasized that the core problem is the danger of drugs entering the public's bloodstream. He criticized that appointing Kim Seung-won as Minister of Justice under such circumstances was impossible from the outset.

Kim Seung-won's response to questions about alleged animal experiment manipulation, stating he 'didn't know and did such things because he was a liberal arts major,' sparked controversy. Former Governor Kim Young-hwan criticized that such evasive remarks rather cast doubt on his competence as a public official.

He added that if the strategy was to make such a response for immunity or exemption, that too was wrong, and he concluded that Kim Seung-won is truly unfit to be a public figure.

Former Governor Kim Young-hwan stated that the locations of the clinical trials, previously unknown, have now come to light.

He added that suspicions are being raised about Representative Shin Hyun-young's connection to these clinical trials, warranting further investigation.

Ultimately, the public interest whistleblower directly filed a complaint with the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, and former Governor Kim demanded a thorough investigation into the MFDS's alleged year-long inaction.

Former Governor Kim Young-hwan emphasized that the hearing should not be bogged down in peripheral controversies, such as photos related to Han Dong-hoon, but should focus on understanding the essence of the situation. He pointed out that the key tasks of the hearing are to uncover how the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety neglected a public interest report for a year and whether there were special privileges for specific hospitals to conduct clinical trials.

He added that the first step towards uncovering the truth must be properly taken, and structural issues such as the collapse of the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, the reasons for selecting specific hospitals, and the absence of an epidemiological investigation into side effects must be deeply probed.

Testimony emerged that Genencell's clinical trials began with the premise of stock price manipulation. Former Governor Kim Young-hwan mentioned testimony indicating awareness of stock manipulation, explaining that if approval was obtained by controlling the speed, hundreds of billions of won could be generated.

He pointed to evidence of broker involvement and the acceptance of convertible bonds, urging a parliamentary investigation and special prosecutor for cases from the Moon Jae-in administration that were not investigated.

He predicted that if Kim Seung-won's appointment as Minister of Justice is forced through, a new gate will open.

He emphasized that persistently tracking and fighting the series of scandals starting from Hamster Gate will be the core strategy for the opposition's victory. He added that the hearing statements should not be the end, but rather lead to tangible results.

He anticipated that issues of consecutive terms, constitutional amendment, and indictment withdrawal would be mentioned at the press conference.

He assessed this press conference as one that cannot succeed, diagnosing that the current national approval rating structure makes a rebound impossible.

He explained that this is deeply related to the political line.

Former Governor Kim pointed out that crises are occurring simultaneously in various areas, including issues of criminal procedure law and security investigation powers, allegations of electoral fraud and stock market manipulation, and Korea-U.S. security and diplomatic issues.

He likened this to a 'war'.

The existing forces of Yoo Si-min, Cho Kuk, Choo Mi-ae, etc., continue to check and pressure Representative Lee Jae-myung, and former Governor Kim judged that the success of the Lee Jae-myung administration would be impossible amidst such internal conflicts.

This is a diagnosis that as the center of power within the Democratic Party shifts, Representative Lee Jae-myung will lose his existing ownership and be absorbed into the party's framework. Former Governor Kim saw no way out for Representative Lee Jae-myung.

Former Governor Kim Young-hwan pointed out that the 'Moon-Jo-Teol-Le-Yu' faction is underestimating the People Power Party in the current political assessment. He mentioned that this situation is similar to the case of the Uri Party during President Roh Moo-hyun's era.

He analyzed that the original code faction within the Democratic Party is showing signs of returning, and some factions within the party seem to enjoy the decline in approval ratings.

Former Governor Kim Young-hwan viewed that a specific faction, Lee Jae-myung, unexpectedly took over the Democratic Party. He diagnosed the essence of the current situation as the Democratic Party being replaced by a specific faction.

Amid disappointment with the People Power Party, the task of regime change becomes even more important. He added that presenting livelihood alternatives that the public can feel is more urgent than fighting over political lines.

Former Governor Kim Young-hwan likened the intense struggle between the Moon-Jo-Teol-Le faction and the Lee Jae-myung-Kim Min-seok faction within the Democratic Party to spectators who have lost interest and gone home. He diagnosed that public interest is higher in livelihood and supplementary investigation cases rather than political disputes like '검수완박' (Prosecution's Investigation Authority Abolition).

He pointed out that the disconnect between the ruling and opposition political parties engrossed in political strife and the increasingly politically indifferent voters is deepening. He emphasized the urgent need for concrete policy alternatives that can offer hope.

He emphasized the importance of presenting specific policy arguments, using Representative Jang Dong-hyuk's remarks on the rural economy as an example.

He added that concrete policy measures, such as digital currency, should be presented to make the public think, 'This is the way to go.' Otherwise, he warned, they would be in a situation of competing with the Moon-Jo-Teol-Le-Yu faction.

Former Governor Kim stressed that the party must present its vision through practical policies that the public can accept, thereby restoring public trust.