Kolmar's owner family dispute escalates into management conflict
A management rights feud among siblings at Kolmar Group has escalated into a legal battle between father and son, according to industry officials and legal sources Wednesday. Chairman Yoon Dong-han, who founded the leading cosmetics manufacturer Kolmar Korea in 1990, filed a lawsuit against his eldest son, Kolmar Holdings Vice Chairman Yoon Sang-hyun. The lawsuit was filed with the Seoul Central District Court on May 30, according to the group. In the suit, Yoon demanded the return of 2.3 million shares in the holding company — now totaling 4.6 million — which he had gifted to his son in 2019. The dispute dates back to 2018, when the chairman finalized a succession plan through a three-way agreement: his son, Sang-hyun, would take over Kolmar Holdings and Kolmar Korea, while his daughter, Yea-won, would lead Kolmar BNH. Based on that agreement, Yoon gifted 2.3 million Kolmar Holdings shares to his son in December 2019 under a conditional arrangement. The stake later doubled to 4.6 million shares through a bonus issue, making Sang-hyun the largest shareholder with a 31.75 percent stake
Jun 18, 2025By Jun Ji-hye