Kim Keonhee Special Prosecutor to Summon Kim in Two Days... Solidifying Charges in 'Butler Gate' and Nomination Scandal

'Butler Gate': Cho Hyunsang, Vice Chairman of HS Hyosung, Summoned
'Nomination Gate': Former Lawmaker Kim Youngsun Questioned
Former President Yoon and Wife's Surprise Trip to Ukraine...
Former Foreign Minister Park Jin Summoned as Reference

Former President Yoon Sukyeol and his wife, along with former People Power Party lawmaker Kim Youngsun, who is suspected of being involved in political broker Myung Taegyun's interference in candidate nominations, are holding a press conference on the 4th before appearing for investigation at the Kim Gunhee Special Prosecutor's office in Jongno-gu, Seoul. Photo by Kang Jinhyung

The special prosecutor team led by Min Junggi is solidifying charges by summoning a series of individuals implicated in the allegations surrounding Kim Keonhee. The questioning of Kim Keonhee herself is scheduled for August 6, 2025. As the special prosecutor is investigating all allegations raised against Kim Keonhee, it is expected that she will be summoned for questioning two or three times before a decision is made on whether to request an arrest warrant.

On August 4, the special prosecutor team summoned Cho Hyunsang, Vice Chairman of HS Hyosung, as a suspect in connection with the so-called "Butler Gate" case. When Cho appeared at the special prosecutor's office located at KT Gwanghwamun Building West in Jongno-gu, Seoul, he remained silent in response to reporters' questions, such as "Was Kim Keonhee involved in the background of the investment?" and proceeded directly to the interrogation room.

The special prosecutor initially planned to question Cho on August 1, but the schedule was postponed after a search and seizure was conducted at Cho's residence and other locations on the day of the planned investigation. It is reported that the search and seizure warrant for Cho included charges of breach of trust in the course of business.

HS Hyosung and others invested a total of 18.4 billion won in June 2023 through the fund management company Oasis Equity Partners (Oasis) in IMS Mobility (IMS, formerly BeMyCar), a rental car company known to be in a state of capital impairment, despite being aware of its financial condition. Kim Yesung, known as Kim Keonhee's butler, was involved in the establishment of IMS Mobility.

The special prosecutor suspects that these companies may have invested in Kim, Kim Keonhee's closest aide, for the purpose of lobbying to resolve business issues. The investigation is focusing on whether Kim Keonhee's influence played a role in the investment process.

The special prosecutor is also investigating the purchase of IMS shares worth over 4.6 billion won held by an investment company called Innovest Korea. Innovest is known to have been established by Kim in 2022, and its only in-house director is currently his wife, identified as Ms. Jeong. The special prosecutor is verifying whether the 4.6 billion won may have been funneled to Kim Keonhee. However, the key figure in the Butler Gate allegations, Kim, has not responded to the investigation since fleeing abroad in April, effectively blocking a crucial path toward Kim Keonhee in the investigation.

Additionally, on this day, the special prosecutor summoned and questioned former lawmaker Kim Youngsun regarding the alleged involvement of former President Yoon Sukyeol and his wife in candidate nominations. Kim Youngsun is implicated in suspicions that the former presidential couple, during the 2022 presidential election, received free public opinion polling from political broker Myung Taegyun and subsequently intervened in the nomination process for the parliamentary by-election held in June of the same year. It is reported that the special prosecutor summoned Myung and others to clarify the nomination process at that time.

Meanwhile, the special prosecutor has also launched an investigation into allegations concerning the former presidential couple's visit to Ukraine. The team plans to summon former Foreign Minister Park Jin as a reference to verify the circumstances and procedures under which the former presidential couple decided to travel to Ukraine, a trip that was not originally scheduled. After the sudden visit to Ukraine by the former presidential couple, the stock price of Sambu Construction soared, and both former and current executives of Sambu Construction, who were promoting reconstruction projects in Ukraine, gained unfair profits amounting to tens of billions of won.

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