Former President Moon Jae-in (far right) and Jeong Eun-kyeong (far left), who was the Commissioner of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency at the time, now the Minister of Health and Welfare. [Cheong Wa Dae=Yonhap News]

The Committee for the People's Livelihood and Welfare (Chairman Kim Soon-hwan) plans to file a criminal complaint against the former public health authorities regarding the administration of 14,204,718 vaccine doses without suspension, despite the discovery of foreign substances such as mold, hair, and silicon dioxide (silica) in COVID-19 vaccines, which could have entered during the manufacturing process.

On the 26th, the committee announced its intention to file charges with the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency against △Former President Moon Jae-in, △Former Minister of Health and Welfare Kwon Deok-cheol, and △Jeong Eun-kyeong, who was the Commissioner of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency and is now the Minister of Health and Welfare, for abuse of authority, dereliction of duty, and violation of the Pharmaceutical Affairs Act.

Based on the Board of Audit and Inspection's findings, the committee claims that from 2021 to 2024, there were repeated reports of foreign substances in the COVID-19 vaccination process. However, the administration of vaccines with the same manufacturing lot number was not immediately halted, and some cases were handled through internal investigations by the manufacturer without being reported to the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety.

Furthermore, the committee stated that deficiencies were revealed throughout vaccine management, including cases where expired vaccines were administered without informing the recipients of the incorrect administration.

At the time, President Moon Jae-in, after being briefed on the COVID-19 vaccination plan, instructed Jeong Eun-kyeong, the Commissioner of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, to "take full authority and direct all ministries regarding COVID-19 vaccine administration."

Amidst the escalating controversy, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency had previously explained that the 1,285 vaccine doses reported with foreign substances were not used for inoculation but were separately isolated and stored, and that no actual vaccinations were administered with these doses.

Reporter Lim Yo-hee