The Seoul High Court's 7th Criminal Division sentenced Genencell founder Kang Se-chan to four years in prison and a 40 million Korean won fine on Sept. 30, ordering his immediate detention. The court found that Kang solicited Ministry of Food and Drug Safety approval for Genencell's COVID-19 treatment clinical trials through broker Yang and recognized 600 million Korean won paid to Yang as consideration for the solicitation, overturning the first trial's acquittal on that charge. The appellate court also upheld findings involving false experimental data and undisclosed information used to induce stock purchases. The ruling could affect a separate trial in which Kang and Yang face allegations of promising 5 million Korean won in political donations to Kim in exchange for help with the approvals. Prosecutors suspended an investigation into Kim in late 2024, but the ruling has renewed scrutiny, while police and the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials review whether to investigate him again.