Assistant special counsel Moon Hong-joo leaves the Seoul Central District Prosecutors Office in southern Seoul on June 18, 2025. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
SEOUL, July 17 (Korea Bizwire) — The special counsel team investigating corruption allegations against former first lady Kim Keon Hee said Thursday it is seeking an Interpol Red Notice for her close aide, who is on the run over suspicions of receiving investments from private companies by exploiting his ties to her.
Special counsel Min Joong-ki’s team launched the process to place Kim Ye-seong, known as the former first lady’s “butler,” on the international wanted list through the National Police Agency, assistant special counsel Moon Hong-joo said in a media briefing.
Moon said that the special counsel also plans to have Kim Ye-seong’s passport invalidated through the foreign ministry.
“We urge Kim, who appears to have fled to a third country from Vietnam, to immediately return home and cooperate with the investigation,” Moon said.
Moon also called for Kim’s wife to come forward voluntarily. The wife has reportedly failed to flee the country.
On Wednesday, a local court issued a warrant to detain Kim Ye-seong over allegations he received 18.4 billion won (US$13.2 million) in dubious investments from several companies, including Kakao Mobility, for his rental car company IMS.
He is also suspected of making a large profit by selling his 4.6 billion-won stake through a shell company
The special counsel suspects that these companies made the investments due to butler Kim’s close ties to the former first lady. The team is also looking into whether the funds were funneled to the former first lady as slush funds.
(Yonhap)
