Kim Geon-hee Special Prosecutor Requests Arrest Warrant for 'Butler' Kim Ye-seong... Embezzlement Charges
- Input
- 2025-08-14 14:25:06
- Updated
- 2025-08-14 14:25:06
Returned from Vietnam after fleeing... Investigation into 18.4 billion won investment misuse and Kim Geon-hee's involvement
[Financial News] The Kim Geon-hee Special Prosecutor Team (Min Jung-gi Special Prosecutor) requested an arrest warrant on the 14th for Kim Ye-seong, known as the butler of Ms. Kim, on charges of occupational embezzlement.
The special prosecutor team announced through a press release on this day, "Today afternoon, we have requested an arrest warrant for Kim Ye-seong, the suspect in the so-called 'Butler Gate' case, on charges of violating the Special Economic Crimes Act (embezzlement)."
The special prosecutor arrested Kim at Incheon Airport after he entered the country on a flight from Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam, on the 12th and has been conducting investigations for two days. Kim had left for Vietnam around the time of former President Yoon Seok-yeol's dismissal in April and had been ignoring the special prosecutor team's summons.
Kim is considered a key suspect in the Butler Gate. The Butler Gate involves IMS Mobility (Be My Car), which Kim was involved in establishing, receiving investments of 18.4 billion won despite being virtually capital impaired.
At the time IMS Mobility received investments, the companies were embroiled in various legal risks. HS Hyosung faced allegations of omitting affiliate reports, holding shares in affiliates under borrowed names by the owner's family, and tax evasion, while Kakao Mobility was under scrutiny for monopoly controversies such as 'call allocation' and affiliate accounting fraud. Subsequently, the Fair Trade Commission launched an investigation and issued warnings.
The special prosecutor team suspects that Kim used Ms. Kim's status to receive investments in exchange for resolving the legal risks of the companies during the investment process. They are also investigating whether 4.6 billion won of the 18.4 billion won investment flowed to Ms. Kim. The special prosecutor team is tracking whether Ms. Kim was directly involved in this process.
scottchoi15@fnnews.com Choi Eun-sol Reporter