Officials from Shinhan Bank and Kyungnam Steel Also Summoned for Questioning
Jung, the wife of Kim Yesung, known as the butler of First Lady Kim Gunhee's family, is appearing on the 23rd at the office of the Min Joonggi Special Prosecutor Team investigating allegations related to First Lady Kim Gunhee, located in the KT Gwanghwamun Building in Jongno-gu, Seoul. Photo by Yonhap News
The Min Joonggi Special Prosecutor Team, which is investigating all allegations raised against First Lady Kim Gunhee, has summoned and is questioning Jung, the spouse of Kim Yesung, who is known as the butler of First Lady Kim Gunhee's family, in connection with the so-called "Butler Gate" case.
On the morning of July 23, Jung appeared at the special prosecutor's office located in the KT Gwanghwamun Building West in Jongno-gu, Seoul. She did not respond to any questions from reporters, such as "Where is your husband currently?" and "Is it true that your husband obtained 4.6 billion won through a borrowed-name corporation?" and proceeded directly to the interrogation room.
In addition, the special prosecutor team is also questioning officials from Shinhan Bank and Kyungnam Steel, which invested in Kim's company. On the same morning, Jeong Geunsoo, former vice president of Shinhan Bank, appeared before the special prosecutor and remained silent in response to reporters' questions, such as "Was First Lady Kim Gunhee involved in the background of the IMS Mobility investment?" and "Do you know Kim Yesung, the butler of the Kim Gunhee family?"
Choi Seokwoo, CEO of Kyungnam Steel, appeared before the special prosecutor and, when asked by reporters about the background of the investment, replied, "It was part of normal investment activities," and added, "I do not know First Lady Kim Gunhee at all."
Despite knowing that IMS Mobility (formerly BeMyCar), a rental car company in which Kim was involved in establishing, was effectively in a state of capital impairment, investors such as HS Hyosung invested 18.4 billion won in June 2023 through the fund management company Oasis Equity Partners (Oasis). There are suspicions that these companies invested in Kim, a close aide to First Lady Kim Gunhee, for the purpose of seeking favors to resolve their own business issues.
Subsequently, IMS purchased IMS shares worth more than 4.6 billion won from Innovest Korea, an investment company reportedly established by Kim in 2022. Currently, the only registered executive director of this company is Kim's wife, Jung, which has fueled suspicions that some of the investment funds from these companies may have flowed to Kim personally. Kim has been missing since leaving for Vietnam in April.
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