Dec 2024 | MBK Partners-Young Poong

Dec 2024 | MBK Partners-Young Poong

Value-up Proposal For Korea Zinc

Through Corporate Governance Reform

Value-up Proposal

For Korea Zinc

Through Corporate Governance Reform

Updates - 2025/11


  1. Past Shareholders' Meetings

'25 January - EGM

During the January 2025 extraordinary meeting, MBKP and Young Poong confronted Korea Zinc management’s attempts to entrench control through controversial tactics –

including a cross-shareholding maneuver to strip Young Poong’s 25% stake of voting rights. The MBKP/YP Consortium condemned the meeting as invalid and pursued legal action,

winning a court decision to suspend the EGM’s outcomes.

Korea Zinc attempted to neutralize Young Poong’s 25% stake

via cross-shareholding. The MBKP/YP Consortium challenged

the move, winning a court suspension of the meeting.


'25 March - AGM

At the March 2025 AGM, MBK and Young Poong pressed for stronger oversight and an independent board to improve Korea Zinc’s governance. Their campaign won support from major

proxy advisors and global investors – including a vote of confidence from Norges Bank Investment Management, Norway’s sovereign fund – underscoring broad shareholder demand

for accountability, while Chairman Choi held on to his management control at the meeting.

The MBKP/YP Consortium pushed for an independent board

and better governance. Global investors supported MBKP/YP,
Consortium signaling growing pressure for reform, while

Chairman Choi held on to management control.


  1. Destruction of Shareholder Value

Need for Corporate Governance Reform

Korea Zinc under Chairman Choi has been labeled “the epitome of bad corporate governance” by its largest shareholder, the MBKP/YP Consortium. The Consortium points to entrenched insider control,

lack of independent oversight,and self-serving decisions as evidence that the current governance structure fails to protect shareholder value. It advocates comprehensive

reform – including a truly independent board and stronger shareholder rights – to modernize Korea Zinc and ensure that the interests of all shareholders are fairly represented.

Korea Zinc is seen as a governance laggard under Chairman

Choi. The MBKP/YP Consortium cites insider control and

self-dealing and seeks independent oversight and
structural reform.


Relationship with Activist Platform, "ACT"

Media reports revealed that the supposedly "independent" minority shareholder platform called ACT was secretly funded by Korea Zinc’s management and used to manipulate

public opinion. According to the media, internal documents revealed that ACT orchestrated sham activist campaigns at unrelated major firms – even proposing cumulative voting at companies like

Emart and Samsung Electronics – solely to legitimize Chairman Choi’s own agenda against the MBKP/YP Consortium. This coordinated deception undermined genuine

shareholder activism and exemplifies how far the current leadership will go to cling to management control.

Media reports revealed that ACT was secretly funded by

Korea Zinc to mimic shareholder activism. It staged fake

campaigns to push Chairman Choi’s agenda. The incident

shows manipulation of investor voices.


Disposal of Hanwha Shares

The MBKP/YP Consortium sued Korea Zinc’s chairman for selling a large block of Hanwha Corp. shares at a giveaway price without board approval, allegedly causing massive losses to the company.

Chairman Choi offloaded Korea Zinc’s entire 7.25% stake in Hanwha at below cost – reportedly as a favor to an ally – forfeiting over W100 billion in potential gains that should have

benefited shareholders. By taking legal actions, the MBKP/YP Consortium aims to hold management accountable and recover value for shareholders, sending a clear message against such unilateral,

value-destructive decisions.

Korea Zinc sold its 7.25% Hanwha stake at a loss, bypassing

board approval. The MBKP/YP Consortium estimates over

W100B in lost value and is suing to hold leadership accountable.


Disposal of Jeongseok Enterprise Shares

Korea Zinc’s leadership orchestrated the purchase and subsequent low-price sale of shares in Jeongseok Enterprise (a Hanjin Group affiliate) under suspicious circumstances.

The MBKP/YP Consortium suspects this was a pre-arranged “parking” transaction – with Korea Zinc acting as a temporary holder of Hanjin’s stake – benefiting the chairman’s allies rather than

Korea Zinc’s own shareholders. This questionable deal further exemplifies the governance failures under Chairman Choi and reinforces the MBKP/YP Consortium’s push for transparency and accountability.

Korea Zinc’s buy-sell deal with Jeongseok appears prearranged.

The MBKP/YP Consortium suspects it benefited allies, not

shareholders. It reflects deeper governance failures.


Omission of Interim Dividend Payments

Korea Zinc’s management failed to follow through on promised interim dividends in 2025, leaving shareholders empty-handed despite prior assurances. The MBKP/YP Consortium points out that this

abrupt reversal – coinciding with Korea Zinc’s profits turning negative – was not even properly disclosed to investors, raising compliance concerns. This broken dividend promise

exemplifies the current leadership’s disregard for shareholder interests and underscores the MBKP/YP Consortium’s push for a reliable, shareholder-friendly dividend policy.

Despite promises, Korea Zinc skipped 2025 interim dividends.

The reversal lacked proper disclosure. The MBKP/YP

Consortium cite this as disregard for shareholder trust.


  1. Questionable Investments

Legal Proceedings Over the Acquisition of Igneo Holdings

Legal Proceedings Over the Acquisition of

Igneo Holdings

Korea Zinc’s 2022 acquisition of Igneo Holdings – a recycling business – has come under scrutiny after revelations that the sellers reaped an astonishing 100-fold return. The MBKP/YP Consortium
raised concerns over Chairman Choi orchestrating this overpriced deal to benefit connected parties at the expense of Korea Zinc shareholders. The MBKP/YP Consortium initiated legal proceedings

and even secured key witness testimony in the US to expose potential misconduct, reinforcing the need for improved oversight and transparency.

Korea Zinc’s Igneo deal delivered a 100x return to sellers.

The MBKP/YP Consortium argues the deal was overpriced

and unfair. Legal steps are underway to uncover potential

misconduct, including a key witness testimony in the US.


OneAsia Partners

The MBKP/YP Consortium has raised concerns over Korea Zinc’s entanglement with OneAsia Partners – a firm implicated in the SM Entertainment stock manipulation scandal – as a serious red flag.

Korea Zinc’s funds were allegedly used as a “cash pipeline” for the scheme, with Chairman Choi’s management effectively complicit in unlawful market manipulation. Recently, the court

rulings confirmed that OneAsia Partners and Korea Zinc's management had a "special relationship," validating concerns raised by the MBKP/YP Consortium.

Korea Zinc was linked to OneAsia Partners, tied to a market

manipulation case. The MBKP/YP Consortium alleges corporate

funds were misused. Recently the court rulings confirmed that

OneAsia Partners and Korea Zinc's management had a

"special relationship," validating these concerns.


TMC Investment

Korea Zinc’s management poured $85 million into The Metals Company (TMC) – a speculative deep-sea mining venture – despite Korea Zinc’s lack of mining expertise. The outcome has

been alarming: TMC’s stock price has been volatile and the project faces legal and regulatory hurdles, including scrutiny by international authorities over potential violations of deep-sea mining

rules. The MBKP/YP Consortium highlights this as a prime example of Chairman Choi’s reckless investments at the expense of shareholder value.

Korea Zinc invested $85M in a deep-sea mining firm with

little expertise. The project drew legal and regulatory scrutiny.

The MBKP/YP Consortium calls it a reckless use of capital.


  1. Alleged Capital Markets Act Violations over Concealment of Capital Increase Plan


  1. Alleged Capital Markets Act Violations over
    Concealment of Capital Increase Plan

Initial Raid of Korea Zinc Headquarters by Prosecutors

Initial Raid of Korea Zinc HQ by Prosecutors

In April 2025, prosecutors raided Korea Zinc’s offices – also targeting securities firms involved – as part of an investigation into the company’s controversial new share issuance plan.

This followed the MBKP/YP’ Consortium's successful efforts to block a massive $1.8 billion share issue that Chairman Choi had attempted – a move regulators and the market saw as unfair and harmful to

shareholders. The criminal probe into this aborted deal underscores the validity of the MBKP/YP Consortium's concerns and its role in safeguarding shareholder interests.

Authorities raided Korea Zinc over its blocked $1.8B share

issuance. The MBKP/YP Consortium had opposed the

move as unfair to shareholders. The investigation confirms

the need for reform.


Second Raid of Korea Zinc Headquarters by Prosecutors


Second Raid of Korea Zinc HQ by Prosecutors

In November 2025, prosecutors carried out a second raid on Korea Zinc – also targeting additional securities firms involved – as the investigation into last year’s controversial share issuance

continues. Authorities suspect that Korea Zinc’s management engaged in fraudulent unfair trading by secretly planning a W2.5 trillion share issue immediately after a massive share buyback,

a scheme regulators have condemned and referred for prosecution.

Prosecutors raided Korea Zinc again over its secretive ₩2.5T

share issue. The scheme followed a large buyback and drew

regulatory referrals.

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