Special Counsel for Kim Keon-hee will summon the former and current representatives of Well Biotec, who were the largest shareholders of SAMBU Construction in 2023, for questioning at 10 a.m. on the 13th. Well Biotec's stock soared along with SAMBU Construction, categorized as a 'beneficiary stock' of Ukraine's reconstruction in 2023.
On that day, the special counsel noted in a notice sent to the press corps, "At 10 a.m., we will summon Lee Gi-hoon, chairman of Well Biotec and vice chairman of SAMBU Construction, and former representative Koo Se-hyun as suspects for questioning."
The special counsel is investigating allegations of stock manipulation concerning SAMBU Construction. There are suspicions that SAMBU Construction misled investors into believing they had the ability to pursue Ukraine's reconstruction projects in May and June of 2023, even though they did not.
These allegations arose because Lee Jong-ho, a former representative of Black Pearl Investment known to have a close relationship with Kim Keon-hee, wife of former President Yoon Suk-yeol, reportedly said, 'Check SAMBU' in a Kakao Talk group for veterans on May 14, 2023.
After Lee's remark to 'Check SAMBU', two days later, former President Yoon and Kim met with the First Lady of Ukraine. On the 22nd of the same month, then-Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Won Hee-ryong attended the Ukraine Global Reconstruction Forum, where representatives from SAMBU Construction and Well Biotec were also present.
As a result, SAMBU Construction was evaluated as a beneficiary stock of Ukraine's reconstruction, with its stock price rising from the 1,000 won range in early May 2023 to over 5,000 won by mid-July. During this period, Well Biotec's stock price also surged from the 1,400 to 1,500 won range to the high 4,000 won range.
Well Biotec was controlled by Lee Il-jun, chairman of SAMBU Construction, through his companies Daeyang D&I and C&I. However, around June 2023, the largest shareholder of Well Biotec changed to Onset Link (currently The L Link).
Earlier, the special counsel began this investigation by conducting a search and seizure at the SAMBU Construction headquarters on the 3rd. Subsequently, on the 9th, they summoned former representative Jeong Chang-rae and current representative Oh Il-rok for questioning. On the 10th, they called in chairman Lee Il-jun and former chairman Cho Sung-ok as suspects for investigation.