The special counsel investigating Kim Keon-hee is summoning the former CEO of KB Capital, who invested 2 billion won in the company of Kim Keon-hee's close associate on September 20, 2023. The special counsel is looking into the circumstances surrounding the investment made by major corporations, totaling hundreds of millions of won, in the rental car company IMS Mobility (formerly Be My Car), which was operated by Kim Ye-seong, who was referred to as the family's caretaker.
On that day, the special counsel stated in a media notice that they were summoning former KB Capital CEO Hwang Soo-nam in connection with the so-called 'Caretaker Gate incident' in the morning.
The caretaker gate mentioned by the special counsel refers to the allegations that major corporations made solicited investments in the company of Kim Ye-seong, who was referred to as the family's caretaker. IMS Mobility, in which Kim was involved in the operations, has been in the red since its establishment in 2013. In June 2023, nine companies, including Kakao Mobility, HS HYOSUNG affiliates, Shinhan Bank, Kiwoom Securities, and Korea Securities Finance, invested 18.4 billion won in this company through funds.
However, three months later, it was reported that KB Capital purchased 45,000 shares of IMS Mobility for 2 billion won. Additionally, it is known that a senior executive of KB Capital at the time of the investment has moved to Deutsch Motors, a subsidiary where allegations of Kim Keon-hee's stock manipulation involvement were raised. Hwang, the former CEO, was in office when KB Capital invested in IMS Mobility.
Meanwhile, related to this case, the special counsel previously investigated Kim Ik-rae, former chairman of DaouKiwoom Group, Yoon Chang-ho, former representative of Korea Securities Finance, and Ryu Geung-seon, CEO of Kakao Mobility. On that day, they summoned Jeong Geun-soo, president of Shinhan Investment Corp CIB (former Shinhan Bank vice president), Choi Seok-woo, CEO of Gyeongnam Steel, another investor in IMS Mobility, Park Chun-won, CEO of JB Woori Capital, and Jeong Mo, wife of Kim Ye-seong, for questioning. Jo Hyun-sang, vice chairman of HS HYOSUNG, will be investigated on the 1st of next month.