Kim Seung-won, a nominee for Minister of Justice, handled the second trial of a 2013 lawsuit before the Seoul High Court division presided over by Judge Jeong. The disclosure conflicts with Kim’s repeated claim that he had never taken cases handled by Judge Jeong’s court. Jeong later dismissed a 2023 bench warrant (court-issued detention order) sought against Genencell founder Kang on charges including breach of trust and obstruction of business. Kim is also under suspicion of asking the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety to approve Genencell’s COVID-19 treatment clinical trial plan. The relationship between Kim and Jeong has drawn scrutiny because they attended the same law school, worked together at the Jeonju District Court in 2002, attended a drinking session with broker Yang in February 2022, and Jeong’s son later worked as a legislative aide in Kim’s office. Kim denied discussing specific cases with Jeong and rejected claims that the son’s employment was connected to the warrant decision.