Kakao Founder Arrested in South Korea for Alleged Stock Manipulation
South Korea’s Seoul, Kim Beom-su, the billionaire founder of the South Korean technology company Kakao Corp, was detained on Tuesday after claims that he had manipulated stock prices during the company’s takeover of a K-Pop firm the previous year. The largest messaging service in South Korea, Kakao, is facing its newest legal hurdle following its arrest.
History and Charges
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Brian Kim, commonly known as Kim Beom-su, is a significant player in South Korea’s digital sector. Since the debut of the chat app in 2010, he has amassed 86 trillion won ($62 billion) in wealth through the development of Kakao’s affiliate network. The prosecution claims that in order to stop rival Hybe from purchasing SM Entertainment in February of the previous year, Kim artificially raised the stock price of the company. Kim has refuted the allegations, claiming he never gave the command or approved of any unlawful behaviour. He hasn’t been officially charged as of yet.
Court Cases
Kim was issued an arrest warrant by the Seoul Southern District Court due to her perceived flight risk, and also to prevent potential evidence destruction. Prosecutors will conduct more investigation into Kim’s case for up to 20 days in the Seoul Nambu Detention Center before determining whether to file an indictment against him. Kakao’s activities could be greatly impacted by this lawsuit, especially its intentions for international expansion and the investments it makes in artificial intelligence.
Effect on Financial Markets and Kakao
The verdict in Kim’s lawsuit may have an impact on Kakao’s ability to govern KakaoBank Corp., its online banking division. Financial restrictions in South Korea prohibit those guilty of financial misconduct from possessing more than ten percent of a bank. Furthermore, Kakao might come under more regulatory scrutiny, which would make big decisions about investments in AI and international company expansion more difficult. This year, the business intends to launch new AI services. Kakao Corp.’s stock fell 3.4 percent in morning trading after Kim’s detention became public, bringing the company’s year-to-date decrease to 24 percent.
Industry Consequences
Industry insiders caution that Kakao’s long-term goals and strategic ambitions may be compromised by any accusations brought against Kim. With a 24 percent stake, Kim is the biggest shareholder of Kakao Corp., and his legal issues have a negative impact on the company’s future. The internet giant’s growth and innovation efforts could be impeded by the current threat to its ambitious projects, which include new AI services.
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