Hanmi Pharmaceutical Files Complaint Against Lim Jong-hoon, CEO of Hanmi Science

Application for Prohibition of Business Interference Injunction Also Submitted

Hanmi Pharm's management rights dispute is intensifying as it files a lawsuit against Lim Jong-hoon, CEO of its holding company Hanmi Science.

On the 25th, Hanmi Pharm filed a complaint with the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency against CEO Lim for obstruction of business and other charges, and also applied for a provisional injunction to prohibit business obstruction, the company announced on the 26th. It claims that CEO Lim has mobilized employees to control and prevent the normal execution of management activities such as finance, accounting, human resources, and IT operations of Hanmi Pharm, a core business company, and has continuously interfered with the execution of duties by the CEO of a separate legal entity.

Hanmi Pharm emphasized that despite sending multiple emails and certified letters over several months requesting the cessation of obstruction, restoration to the original state, and proper fulfillment of business consignment contracts, the obstructive actions continue.

Additionally, Hanmi Pharm stated that the complaint clearly details facts of illegal acts involving coercion by Hanmi Science, including 'unauthorized personnel appointments and system manipulation,' 'attempts to restrict and demote CEO authority,' and 'interference with publicity budget execution.'

Hanmi Pharm explained that acts by a holding company obstructing the business of a core operating company can be considered an intangible force restricting free management activities and causing confusion, which falls under the definition of 'coercion' as described in Article 314 of the Criminal Act.

Furthermore, Hanmi Pharm filed a provisional injunction application with the Seoul Eastern District Court the previous day against Hanmi Science and six others to prohibit business obstruction. The injunction includes a clause stating, "If violated, the debtors shall jointly pay the creditor 20 million KRW for each violation."

Following Hanmi Science's mid-month accusation of Hanmi Pharm CEO Park Jae-hyun and other executives for breach of trust and other charges, Hanmi Pharm's counter-lawsuit has escalated the management rights dispute between the two sides.

The three-party alliance consisting of Lim Jong-yoon, inside director of Hanmi Science and brother of CEO Lim Jong-hoon, and Song Young-sook, chairwoman of the Hanmi Pharm Group, will engage in a vote battle over matters such as expanding the board of directors and appointing new directors at the Hanmi Science extraordinary shareholders' meeting scheduled for the 28th.