The special investigation team led by Min Jung-ki, probing allegations related to former President Yoon Suk-yeol's wife, Kim Keon-hee, is reported to have secured testimony from the organizers of the 'Ukraine Reconstruction Forum' that supports suspicions of market manipulation involving SAMBU Construction.
According to the legal community on the 11th, Yang Yong-ho, president of the Eurasian Economic Association, testified to the special investigation team during a witness interview on the 8th.
The allegations of stock manipulation involving SAMBU Construction suggest that despite not intending to participate in Ukraine's reconstruction efforts, the company signed memorandums of understanding (MOUs) with local construction firms, boosting its stock price and providing executives with illicit gains amounting to hundreds of millions of won. SAMBU Construction's stock price soared following the Ukraine forum held in Poland on May 22 of that year. The Eurasian Economic Association was the organizer of this forum.
Yang reportedly told the special investigation team, "Anyone could participate in the Ukraine forum by paying a registration fee of 1 million won, but SAMBU Construction was reported as if they attended upon an invitation from the association," and added that he thought it was packaged for stock management.
Yang is also reported to have claimed that the business agreement SAMBU Construction signed with local municipalities at the forum was unrelated to the association.
The special investigation team is said to have pressed charges of market manipulation against former and current substantial stakeholders, including Oilrok, CEO of SAMBU Construction, based on Yang's testimony.
The team is expected to question SAMBU Construction Vice President Lee and former CEO of the related company Well Biotec, Gu, in a similar context during their summons on the 13th.