Kim Geon-hee Special Prosecutor, 'Butler Gate' Kakao Mobility Former CFO Summoned for Investigation

[Financial News] Kim Geon-hee Special Prosecutor Team (Min Jung-gi Special Prosecutor) summoned the former Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of Kakao Mobility for investigation regarding the 'Butler Gate'.
The special prosecutor team announced on the 20th that they summoned the former CFO of Kakao Mobility, Mr. Lee, for investigation the previous day.
The special prosecutor team reportedly questioned Mr. Lee about △ the circumstances and background of the investment in IMS Mobility (Be My Car) established by 'Butler' Kim Ye-seong △ the investment process △ the relationship with Mr. Kim △ whether Mrs. Kim Geon-hee was aware of the involvement, etc.
Mr. Lee is suspected of leading the investment process of Kakao Mobility in IMS Mobility. IMS Mobility, established by Mr. Kim, received an investment of 18.4 billion won from Kakao Mobility, HS Hyosung, and Korea Securities Finance in 2023. At that time, IMS Mobility was in a state of capital erosion with more liabilities than net assets, yet received large investments from several companies. There is suspicion that Mr. Kim additionally secured a profit of 4.6 billion won through a borrowed-name company from the investment funds. The special prosecutor is investigating whether Mr. Kim, known as Mrs. Kim Geon-hee's butler, used her status to receive quid pro quo investments.
To investigate these suspicions, the special prosecutor team plans to summon Ryu Geung-seon, CEO of Kakao Mobility, and Cho Hyun-sang, Vice Chairman of HS Hyosung, on the 21st, and Yoon Jae-hyun, CEO of Chamsun Food, known to be close to Mr. Kim, on the 22nd.
Meanwhile, the special prosecutor team announced the previous day that the summons investigation of Yoon Young-ho, former director of the Unification Church World Headquarters, scheduled for 10 a.m. that day, was unsuccessful. The special prosecutor team explained, "Mr. Yoon's side submitted a unilateral postponement application without separate schedule coordination with the special prosecutor," and "the special prosecutor plans to handle it as a non-compliance with the summons according to the principle."
Mr. Yoon is suspected of delivering gifts intended for Mrs. Kim to Jeon Seong-bae, known as Geonjin Beopsa, to resolve church-related issues. Mr. Jeon claimed in a prosecution investigation that he received a diamond necklace and Chanel bag for Mrs. Kim from Mr. Yoon but lost them all. The requests conveyed by Mr. Yoon reportedly included △ support for the Unification Church's Mekong River development project in Cambodia △ acquisition of YTN by the Unification Church △ hosting the UN (United Nations) 5th office in Korea △ invitation to the presidential inauguration ceremony.
To this end, the special prosecutor team conducted a search and seizure on the 18th at more than 10 locations, including Mr. Yoon's residence, the Unification Church headquarters in Seorak-myeon, Gapyeong-gun, the Seoul headquarters in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, and 'Cheonjeonggung', the residence of Han Hak-ja, the president of the Unification Church. 

theknight@fnnews.com Jeong Kyung-soo Reporter