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Yang, 47, a female broker accused of lobbying the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety for a “COVID-19 new drug,” was reported on September 1 to have boasted about her connections not only to Justice Minister nominee Kim Seung-won but also to other political figures.

Public interest whistleblower Jo, 47, stated in an interview with this newspaper, “Yang was the ‘queen of lobbying,’” adding, “She frequently mentioned politicians that ordinary people wouldn’t even know.” According to a recording released by Jo, Yang described Kim during a November 2021 call as “a complete confidant of Moon Jae-in and involved in legal, administrative, and document work for Lee Jae Myung.” Yang continued, “I’m with the People Power Party—what’s the difference? It doesn’t matter who’s in power,” implying her lobbying capabilities would remain effective regardless of which party won the presidency, about three months before the 2022 election.

In a conversation between Yang and Kang, founder of pharmaceutical company Genencell, released by independent Rep. Han Dong-hoon, Yang listed Democratic Party figures such as Rep. Choi Jae-sung (head of the party leader’s special advisory group), floor leader Han Byung-do, Rep. Song Young-gil, and former Rep. Lee Nak-yon, stating, “I know many key figures in this administration.” Conversely, Democratic Party Rep. Kim Dong-ah said the day before that “there are suspicions Yang was also involved with former President Yoon Suk-yeol’s presidential campaign.”

Opposition circles speculate Yang built her network while operating entertainment establishments in Gangnam, Seoul. Kim also stated the day before that he first met Yang as a customer at “restaurants and cafes frequented by legal professionals,” calling her a “successful entrepreneur” and a “good junior.” Kim defended Yang in 2011 when she was prosecuted for failing to pay severance to employees at an entertainment establishment.

Yang founded a cosmetics company in 2014, reportedly using her status as a “female entrepreneur” to meet prominent figures at events. Her social media accounts are now deleted. Yang became a subject of a prosecution investigation in 2022 over allegations of lobbying the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, and her cosmetics company went bankrupt in December 2023. She is currently on trial for allegedly promising bribes to Kim in exchange for lobbying the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety.

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