{
  "id": 727114,
  "title": "Tax agency launches probe into KB Kookmin Bank: sources",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/13/tax-agency-launches-probe-into-kb-kookmin-bank-sources-727114",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-13T03:47:03.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Korea Times",
    "slug": "the-korea-times",
    "url": "https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/economy/20260813/tax-agency-launches-probe-into-kb-kookmin-bank-sources"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The National Tax Service (NTS) has initiated a special investigation into KB Kookmin Bank, according to financial sources. Around 30 investigators from the NTS' Investigation Bureau 4, known as the \"Grim Reaper\" in the business community, have been dispatched to the bank's headquarters in Seoul to collect accounting records for a tax audit. The duration of the probe is not yet specified, but it is expected to conclude by the end of the year. The reason behind the investigation has not been disclosed yet. Earlier this year, similar special probes were carried out against Hana Financial Group and Meritz Securities Co. in May. The NTS declined to confirm if these investigations were specifically targeted at individual cases.",
  "summary": "Korea's tax agency has launched a special probe into KB Kookmin Bank, a major lender, financial sources said Thursday. According to insiders, the National Tax Service (NTS) has sent around 30 investigators to the bank's headquarters in western Seoul to secure accounting records needed for a tax audit. The sources added the investigators are from Investigation Bureau 4 of the NTS' Seoul Regional…",
  "key_points": [
    "National Tax Service launches probe into KB Kookmin Bank.",
    "30 investigators from NTS Investigation Bureau 4 dispatched.",
    "Investigation expected to conclude by year-end."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}