Seoul High Court Re-examines Ruling for SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won to Pay 944 Billion KRW to Ex-wife
The Seoul High Court has re-examined and ruled that SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won must pay 944 billion KRW, approximately 640 million USD, to his ex-wife, Roh Soo-young, as part of property division.
This amount is a reduction of 436.8 billion KRW, about 32%, from the second trial in 2024. The court still includes Chey Tae-won's SK shares as part of the joint property and divides them at a one-third ratio, using the valuation from April 2024.
The ruling is event-driven, and SK-related stock prices reacted positively. The funding is cautious as control remains stable, benefiting Chey Tae-won's shareholding structure, while the party seeking higher cash compensation is under pressure.
Source: Public Information
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Chey Tae-won married Roh Soo-young in 1988 and initiated divorce proceedings in 2015 after an extramarital affair became public. The Supreme Court confirmed the divorce in 2025 and upheld the mental compensation, but sent the property division back for re-examination due to funds related to former President Roh Tae-woo not being legally protected.
In terms of capital pathways, the court allowed cash payments instead of forced share transfers, enabling Chey Tae-won to retain approximately 17.9% of SK Inc. shares and indirect control over SK Hynix, allowing resources to continue focusing on AI storage expansion rather than equity dilution.
Similar cases can be seen in Samsung's Lee Jae-yong inheritance dispute, where cash and equity combinations resolved control issues. Currently, SK is in a governance stabilization phase following a peak in semiconductor market value.
Essentially, this is about capital concentration, with mechanisms in place that lock in valuation timing and cash alternatives, reducing the impact of post-event market conditions on family control.
ABAB News · Cognitive Law
Valuation timing determines divorce outcomes
Cash payments preserve control
Re-examinations often reduce extreme rulings