Kim Ye-seong, a longtime aide living in the home of former First Lady Kim Kun-hee, demanded during her appellate hearing that the lower court’s acquittal on embezzlement charges be reversed.
The special investigation team questioned Kim on April 3 at Seoul High Court Criminal Division 8, presided over by Judge Kim Seong-su. Investigators suspect she arbitrarily accepted an unlimited public service embezzlement ruling in her first trial.
In her statement to the panel, Kim insisted on overturning the original embezzlement judgment, arguing that the single investigator’s decision lacked authority.
Case Background
Investigators allege Kim operated a shell company under InnoBest Korea, using the fictitious entity IMS Mobility—also known as Bimai Ka—to sell shares to 46 buyers. Of the proceeds, 2.4 billion won was allegedly diverted to the IMS Mobility representative, prompting embezzlement charges.
Prosecutors previously ruled this as public service embezzlement. However, Kim maintains it falls outside the special team’s jurisdiction, describing it as a separate matter handled by an individual investigator.
The team contends the investigator’s findings justify reopening the case, including details from the special circumstances embezzlement investigation.
Kim’s Defense
Kim refuted claims of wrongdoing, stating, “The special team investigated the prosecutor’s personal gains through a separate investigator’s meeting.” She added, “There is no intent whatsoever in the original judgment.”
Further, she described the probe as a “related matter” but emphasized it solely alters the prosecutor’s statements and circumstances. “Even if it is a target of investigation, judging intent as mine undermines the special prosecutor’s fairness and independence, leading to trivial results,” she argued.
In a follow-up statement, Kim remarked, “It is not that we touched innocent facts, but we examined the accurate ones.” She expressed regret, saying, “I am sorry for causing social controversy.”
The court plans to deliver its ruling on the 29th.
