Prosecutors Indict Former Blue House Administrator on Charges Including Bribery Under Special Act for Alleged Cover-up of Lime Scandal

Kim Mo, a former Blue House administrator accused of bribery related to the Lime scandal, is entering the Seoul Southern District Court on the 18th of last month to attend a warrant hearing. / Yonhap

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Seok-jin] Kim, a former administrative officer of the Blue House Economic Policy Secretariat (age 46), who is suspected of involvement in covering up Lime Asset Management's redemption suspension incident, has been indicted on charges including receiving bribes worth tens of millions of won.

The prosecution confirmed that former administrative officer Kim received bribes and leaked inspection information from the Financial Supervisory Service (FSS) regarding Lime Asset Management, and included this in the indictment.

The Criminal Division 6 of the Seoul Southern District Prosecutors' Office (Chief Prosecutor Jo Sang-won) indicted former administrative officer Kim on the 1st on charges of violation of the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes (bribery), bribery involving a third party, and violation of the Financial Services Commission Act, and detained him.

According to the prosecution, Kim, who was dispatched from the FSS and worked at the Blue House from February last year to February this year, is suspected of receiving bribes worth approximately 36 million won in cash and entertainment from Kim Bong-hyun, chairman of Star Mobility (age 46, detained), who was identified as the behind-the-scenes money master of the Lime incident, from May last year to March this year. The two are known to be friends.

Additionally, from September last year to March this year, he is also suspected of registering his younger brother, Kim, as an outside director of Star Mobility and enabling him to receive 19 million won as salary, which is a charge of bribery involving a third party.

Former administrative officer Kim is also accused of leaking internal documents of the Financial Supervisory Service related to the Lime Asset Management inspection, which he obtained in the course of his duties around August last year, to former chairman Kim after receiving bribes.

The Financial Services Commission Act, in Article 35, Paragraph 2, prohibits the FSS governor, deputy governor, auditors, employees, or those who have held such positions from disclosing information learned in the course of their duties to others, and Article 68 (Penalties) stipulates that violations are punishable by imprisonment of up to three years or a fine of up to 20 million won.

Former administrative officer Kim attracted attention by appearing in recorded conversations between Jang, former head of the Daishin Securities Banpo WM Center, who is a key investigation target in the Lime incident, and victim investors.

The recordings include statements by former center head Jang to victims indicating that former administrative officer Kim was preventing the spread of the Lime incident.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.