The Kim Kun-hee special investigation team, which is investigating allegations of Deutsche Motors stock manipulation, is speeding up its investigation by summoning former SBS announcer Kim Beom-soo. Former announcer Kim was an internal director at Covana Contents, where Kim Kun-hee was president. He was summoned as a reference after circumstances related to stock trading were discovered.
On the afternoon of the 3rd, former announcer Kim appeared at the special prosecutor’s office located at KT Gwanghwamun West Building in Jongno-gu, Seoul, and was investigated for about 8 hours. After the investigation, he met with reporters and cautiously said, “I was investigated as a reference, and I was sincere about it.” It is reported that the special investigation team focused on former announcer Kim’s stock transactions in Deutsche Motors, his contact with Mrs. Kim at the time, and whether information was shared.
Former announcer Kim served as an internal director at Covana Contents from June 2011 to June 2014, and from March 2015 to March 2018. Notably, his earlier tenure coincides with the ‘second operation period’ (October 2010~December 2012) of the Deutsche Motors stock manipulation case. If, during this period, there was a conversation indicating that Mrs. Kim suggested stock trading to former announcer Kim or hinted at the possibility of market manipulation, it could lead to charges of aiding or conspiring with Mrs. Kim, according to the special prosecutor’s judgment.
In fact, former announcer Kim appeared on MBC’s entertainment program ‘Radio Star’ aired in 2011 and introduced himself as an employee of a cultural contents company, promoting the ‘Chagall Exhibition’ booklet that Covana Contents was running at the time. This exhibition was held from December 2010 to March 2011, overlapping significantly with the period of Deutsche Motors stock manipulation. Consequently, the investigation is likely to be accompanied by an examination of former announcer Kim’s role at the time and Covana Contents’ internal circumstances.
Meanwhile, on the same day, the special investigation team also summoned Kwon Oh-soo, the former chairman of Deutsche Motors. Former chairman Kwon had been sentenced to 3 years in prison and 4 years of probation by the Supreme Court in April this year in connection with the stock manipulation case. The special prosecutor re-summoned former chairman Kwon as the ‘final puzzle’ to uncover Mrs. Kim’s involvement in the case and attempted to secure testimonies about her direct involvement or conspiracy.
The special investigation team is set to summon Kim Kun-hee on the 6th. Initially, Mrs. Kim’s involvement in the stock manipulation was known as a simple provider of funds. However, during the Seoul High Prosecutors’ Office investigation, hundreds of transcripts containing circumstances indicating her awareness of market manipulation were secured, elevating the issue of her conspiracy. It is predicted that the scope of charges against Mrs. Kim may expand in the future since her account, as well as her mother Choi Eun-soon’s account, were used for market manipulation, as judged by the court.
The special investigation team also plans to conduct further investigations into Lee Jong-ho, the former head of Black Pearl Invest. Former director Lee is considered a key figure in the Deutsche Motors operation and is evaluated to hold the key to revealing the specific involvement of Mrs. Kim.
Attention is focused on what results this special investigation will lead to with the direct summoning of Mrs. Kim and whether the testimonies of surrounding figures, including former announcer Kim Beom-soo, can be decisive.
