Prosecutors Request Supplementary Investigation into Kimganae Chairman Over Embezzlement Allegations

The Seoul Northern District Prosecutors Office has requested a supplementary investigation by the police regarding allegations that Kim Yong-man, chairman of the popular snack franchise Kimganae, embezzled hundreds of millions of won in company funds.

The prosecutors office announced that it returned the case to the police after requesting further investigation into the charges of embezzlement under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment, etc. of Specific Economic Crimes, which the police had referred to the prosecution last June.

The decision is interpreted as a determination by the prosecution that additional fact-finding and a reinforced investigation are essential regarding the embezzlement charges against Chairman Kim that the police have been investigating.

An official from the Seongbuk Police Station, which has received the case back, declined to comment, stating that it is difficult to disclose specific details of the investigative directive as the matter is currently under investigation.

According to the police investigation, Chairman Kim is accused of siphoning off approximately 600 million won in company funds for personal use between January 2023 and the following year.

Authorities have identified that Chairman Kim allegedly diverted various product incentives and brokerage fees—received from suppliers providing ingredients to the Kimganae brand and subcontractors in charge of store interior construction—into private channels rather than corporate accounts.

The controversy surrounding Chairman Kim's moral conduct is not limited to the embezzlement allegations.

Chairman Kim was previously indicted on charges of taking an unconscious female subordinate to a motel and attempting to sexually assault her last May. He was sentenced to three years in prison, suspended for five years, in the first trial.

At the time, the court held him heavily accountable, stating that the nature of the crime was very poor and the victim suffered extreme mental distress. However, Chairman Kim's side appealed for leniency by citing the livelihoods of franchise owners, and he ultimately avoided prison time.

However, as the prosecution's comprehensive reinvestigation into the embezzlement of hundreds of millions of won in corporate funds has become a reality during his probation period, the credibility of the Kimganae brand has suffered a critical blow.

Reported by Kim Jiuk | Video by Kim Hye-ju | Graphics by Yang Hye-min | Produced by SBS Digital News
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.