The chief executives of Kakao Talk, one of the most used mobile messenger services here, were allegedly questioned by the U.S. authorities in June over a possible connection to a crime ring. 

The reports said the authorities believed the company chairman Kim Beom-su and co-CEO Lee Sir-goo, along with a vice president, could have been working with a Korean-American crime organization to illegally import stolen phones to Korea.

Lee, however, flatly denied the reports, saying that they were not even close to the truth.

The company explained that Kakao Talk was questioned on financial issues regarding Kim Beom-su, and submitted a related statement. 
Kim had not attended the meeting with the Treasury Department employee. 

Earlier media reports had speculated that Lee had written a statement regarding his alleged connection to the crime organization.

Kakao Talk also said the U.S. authorities had shown much interest toward Kim, asking why he was not present several times.

“We believe Kim was ill at the time and was not up to the flight,” said Lim Sun-young, a spokeswoman for Kakao Talk.

Other reports said the U.S. authorities were after Kim for a questionable purchase of a $5.48 million mansion in California when he was working for NHN’s U.S. corporation.

Kakao Talk said it checked the papers regarding the purchase but nothing seemed to be out of order. 


By Kim Ji-hyun and Kim Young-won 
(jemmie@heraldcorp.com) (wone0102@heraldcorp.com)