Ibo-khyeon, head of the Financial Supervisory Service, said he would complete the investigation into the stock price manipulation suspicion of SAMBU Construction by next month.
On the 26th, Ibo-khyeon appeared on MBC Radio "Kim Jong-bae's Focus" and noted, "Regarding the SAMBU Construction investigation, I am eager to handle it preferably in April."
In May 2023, SAMBU Construction, classified as a Ukrainian reconstruction company, saw its stock price soar from the 1,000-won range to 5,500 won within two months. The opposition raised allegations that Lee Jong-ho, a former representative of Black Pearl Investment and the account manager for Kim Keon-hee, was involved in this process. Lee was a key figure in the Deutsch Motors stock manipulation scandal. It has recently been revealed that stakeholders of SAMBU Construction pocketed profits from sales amounting to about 11 billion won.
On that day, Ibo-khyeon explained, "Among the materials related to abnormal transactions from the Korea Exchange, the account of Lee Jong-ho was excluded," adding that "the FSS is investigating beyond the parts not provided by the Korea Exchange."
Currently, the FSS is analyzing accounts and financial data related to SAMBU Construction, reportedly involving more than 200 accounts. Ibo-khyeon stated, "I cannot say whether we will consult with the prosecution, but we are of course carrying out and planning to carry out the procedures as others expect."
When asked how the statement "Kim Keon-hee and former Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Won Hee-ryong have no relation to SAMBU Construction" could be made while the investigation is not yet complete, he replied, "At this point, that is the case." On the 18th, Ibo-khyeon attended a National Assembly Strategy and Finance Committee meeting and had said that neither Kim Keon-hee nor former Minister Won Hee-ryong had benefited from SAMBU Construction.
Ibo-khyeon noted, "Due to the characteristics of the investigation, even if something is confirmed now, the meaning of that content may change later," and explained, "The investigation is like a living organism." He then added, "When asked about the current stage in the National Assembly, I meant to say that there has been no profit gained by (Kim Keon-hee and former Minister Won) through their accounts."