Prosecutors Arrest Kim Seong-tae's Close Associates, Tracking Last Remaining Nephew

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyung-min] The prosecution is gaining momentum in the investigation with the consecutive arrests of former Ssangbangwool Group Chairman Kim Seong-tae and his close associates. The investigation team is currently tracking down one nephew who acted as Kim's errand runner in Thailand.

According to legal circles on the 19th, the prosecution and Thai authorities are pursuing Seo Mo, Kim’s nephew and personal secretary. Seo is known to have stayed with Kim during his fugitive life in Thailand, taking care of various errands such as cooking.

Former Chairman Kim Seong-tae of Ssangbangwool Group, who was caught in Thailand while on the run abroad, is returning to Korea through Incheon International Airport Terminal 1 on the 17th. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

The prosecution believes that Seo was close to Kim throughout his time on the run and therefore likely knows what instructions Kim gave to Ssangbangwool Group executives and employees. Seo was not present at the scene when Kim was apprehended on the 10th at a golf course in Pathum Thani, Thailand, along with current Chairman Yang Seon-gil.

Besides Seo, Kim also lived with his personal secretary Park Mo. Park fled to Cambodia on the 18th but was caught by local police. At the time of his arrest, Park was in possession of Kim’s mobile phone and other belongings. The prosecution plans to promptly repatriate Park to Korea to secure Kim’s mobile phone and related items.

Earlier, in December last year, Kim Mo, former head of finance at Ssangbangwool, was captured in Thailand. As Kim Seong-tae’s treasurer, he filed a lawsuit against extradition and is currently undergoing trial locally.

Meanwhile, in the early hours of the day, the prosecution filed an arrest warrant against former Chairman Kim on charges including embezzlement and breach of trust, violations of the Capital Markets Act (fraudulent unfair trading), allegations of illegal remittance to North Korea (violation of the Foreign Exchange Transactions Act), bribery, and obstruction of justice. The pre-arrest suspect interrogation (warrant hearing) was scheduled for 2:30 PM that day, but Kim’s defense attorney decided to forgo the hearing.

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