Former SBS announcer Kim Bum Soo is drawing attention after it was revealed that he promoted Kovana Contents, a company led at the time by Kim Keon Hee, during a past appearance on MBC’s variety show ‘Radio Star’.
In the 2011 broadcast, when asked why he left SBS after only four years, Kim Bum Soo replied, “I needed money, but the main reason was to gain a variety of experiences.”
Regarding his profile listing him as a “businessman” after leaving the network, he clarified, “I didn’t start my own company. I don’t have that kind of money — I’m just a salaried employee. It’s my third year with the company.”
Before the recording, Kim Bum Soo reportedly visited the MCs’ waiting room to hand out business cards, introducing himself as someone who “works for a company that invests in and develops cultural products.” He added, “When I was on air, I didn’t do this, but now that I’m working here, I greet people with my business card first. Naturally, I have to talk about the company,” actively promoting it.
The resurfaced clip is gaining renewed attention because the company he referred to was Kovana Contents, then headed by Kim Keon Hee.
Currently, a special counsel team is investigating allegations that Kim Keon Hee participated in manipulating the stock price of Deutsch Motors while serving as CEO of Kovana Contents.
On August 11th, JTBC reported that the special counsel obtained an audio recording in which Kim Keon Hee explicitly mentioned engaging in a borrowed-name stock transaction, saying, “I put in 300 million won ($217,000),” and “I’m doing it under a borrowed name.” The report identified the account holder as Kim Bum Soo.
According to the report, in August 2011, Kim Keon Hee deposited 300 million KRW into Kim Bum Soo’s stock account and, in a call with a Mirae Asset employee on the same day, stated, “I put 300 million won into that account,” and “This is a borrowed-name transaction, so please be aware,” before ordering the purchase of “30 million won ($21,700) of Deutsch Motors and 20 million won ($14,450) of Woori Technology.”
From August to November 2011, Kim Bum Soo purchased 148 million KRW ($107,000) worth of Deutsch Motors stock, earning a profit of 32 million KRW ($23,000).
Kim Bum Soo was summoned as a witness by the special counsel team on August 3rd for questioning regarding the matter.
SEE ALSO: Arrest warrant issued for former First Lady Kim Keon Hee
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