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Photo courtesy of Yonhap News |
[Alpha Biz= Kim Jisun] After weathering a prolonged management control dispute among the founding family, Hanmi Pharmaceutical Group is facing renewed internal tensions just a year later, as controversy grows over alleged management intervention by its largest individual shareholder.
According to the pharmaceutical and biotech industry on Monday, Shin Dong-kuk, chairman of Hanyang Precision and the largest shareholder of Hanmi Science, disclosed that he had acquired an additional 6.45 percent stake in Hanmi Science through off-market purchases on February 13. As a result, the combined stake held by Shin and Hanyang Precision rose to 29.83 percent.
The figure approaches nearly half of the 63.89 percent stake held by Chairwoman Song Young-sook, the widow of late founder Lim Sung-ki, and other related parties.
The development has heightened concerns within the group over potential management interference by the largest individual shareholder.
According to industry sources, division heads and employees of Hanmi Pharmaceutical held a placard protest in the lobby of the company’s headquarters the previous day. The protesters reportedly demanded an official apology to alleged victims and employees in connection with internal sexual harassment allegations—cited as an example of Shin’s management intervention—as well as an end to shareholder interference and the establishment of board-level checks and balances.
Earlier, Hanmi Pharmaceutical CEO Park Jaehyun claimed that personnel action against an executive accused of sexual harassment could not proceed due to pressure from Shin, and that the executive ultimately resigned voluntarily. Park reportedly provided audio recordings related to the matter to several media outlets.
Park has also alleged that Shin pressured management to exclude existing suppliers and push for the replacement of raw pharmaceutical ingredients with lower-cost alternatives, citing cost reduction as the rationale.
Alphabiz Reporter Kim Jisun(stockmk2020@alphabiz.co.kr)
