Korea Zinc Co. the new office in downtown Seoul welcomes visitors with a large bust of the current president’s grandfather. However, conspicuously absent is the friend who founded the metals empire with him more than seven decades ago – and whose family is now trying to take control.

The fight for the largest zinc smelter in the world is between the president of Korea Zinc. Yun B. Choi against its main shareholder Young Poong Corp.., controlled by the other founding family, the Changs. The rift has put two of South Korea’s richest families at odds.