The special prosecutor team led by Min Joongki, which is investigating allegations related to Kim Gunhee, is summoning both the current and former chairmen of Sambu Construction as suspects to question their involvement in stock price manipulation.
According to the special prosecutor team on July 9, Lee Iljun, the current chairman of Sambu Construction, and Cho Seongok, the former chairman, are scheduled to appear at 10 a.m. on July 10 at the special prosecutor's office located in the KT Gwanghwamun Building West in Jongno-gu, Seoul. They are suspected of enticing investors under the pretext of the Ukraine Reconstruction Forum, artificially inflating Sambu Construction's stock price, and then selling their shares to profit from the rise.
Min Joongki, the special prosecutor in charge of the case related to allegations against Kim Gunhee, wife of former President Yoon Sukyeol, is giving a greeting speech at the plaque unveiling ceremony held on July 2, 2025, at the special prosecutor's office set up in the KT Gwanghwamun Building West in Jongno-gu, Seoul. Photo by Jo Yongjun
In a media interview, former chairman Cho denied the allegations, stating that he handed over the company to chairman Lee around February of that year, three months before the Ukraine reconstruction project was launched, and that he has no connection to the Ukraine reconstruction business. He is also reported to have denied any relationship with Lee Jongho, the former CEO of Black Pearl Investment and a key figure in the Deutsche Motors stock manipulation case.
Former CEO Lee Jongho became the subject of stock price manipulation suspicions after it was revealed that he left a message in a group chat saying "Sambu tomorrow check" just before Sambu's stock price surged. He is also suspected of lobbying to allow the son of former chairman Cho, who is serving a prison sentence due to the Lime Asset Management scandal, to remain longer in Seoul Detention Center.
Meanwhile, on this day, the special prosecutor team is accelerating its investigation into the Sambu stock manipulation allegations by summoning both Sambu Construction CEO Oh Illok and former CEO Jeong Changrae for questioning.
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