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[Alpha Biz=(Chicago) Reporter Paul Lee] "The investigation is currently proceeding with normal and normal procedures," an official at the Seoul Southern District Prosecutors' Office said on the 5th. "I think there will be a chance to listen to former Chairman Kim at an appropriate time."
"Some have not yet been sent by the Financial Supervisory Service, so we will closely review the relevant evidence and conclude it in line with the overall investigation schedule," he added.
At the same time, Kakao Entertainment's suspicion of acquiring a high-priced drama production company is expanding its investigation. "We have booked Lee Joon-ho, head of Kakao Entertainment's investment strategy division, and Kim Sung-soo, head of Kakao Entertainment, and are investigating them," a prosecution official said.
Kakao bought the production company Baram Pictures for 20 billion won in 2020. The key point of the suspicion is that the company, which had been suffering an operating loss for years with a capital of 100 million won, was damaged by buying and increasing the capital more expensive than the market price.
The prosecution suspects that Lee, who was the head of Kakao Entertainment's sales division at the time of the acquisition, colluded with Kim with the aim of driving market profits to Baram Pictures invested by his wife, actress Yoon Jung-hee. Currently, Yoon is a witness, but there is a possibility that he may be converted into a suspect depending on future investigations.
While looking into the alleged manipulation of SM Entertainment's market price from the Financial Supervisory Service, the prosecution caught the breach of trust and launched an investigation directly.
On the 22nd of last month, the company seized and searched the office of the Kakao Group's Pangyo hideout and secured related data.
Alphabiz Reporter Paul Lee(hoondork1977@alphabiz.co.kr)
