- Chey Tae-won has been ordered by a South Korean court to pay his former wife 944 billion won ($644 million) in a divorce settlement, which is significantly less than the amount she sought.
- The court's ruling is based on an asset division ratio where Roh Soh-yeong receives one-third and Chey retains two-thirds, aligning with a previous Supreme Court ruling.
- Divorce proceedings began over a decade ago when Chey announced their separation via a letter to the media.
- Roh Soh-yeong argued for a larger share of Chey's fortune, claiming her father's early investment contributed to the company's growth, but the court ruled against this valuation.
- The Seoul High Court ruled that the shares should be valued at the date the appellate court concluded its hearing in 2024, prior to the AI boom that significantly increased prices.
- The Supreme Court previously overturned a higher valuation that would have granted Roh about $1 billion, stating that her father's financial contributions could not be included in the couple's assets.
- When Chey announced the end of his marriage in 2015, shares of SK Hynix were valued at approximately 33,000 won ($30), but the company has since reached a valuation of $1 trillion due to AI investments.
Chey Tae-won, chairman of SK Group, has been ordered to pay his ex-wife, Roh Soh-yeong, 944 billion won ($644 million) in a divorce settlement, a figure significantly lower than the $1 billion she sought. This ruling comes after a decade-long legal battle following their split in 2015, when Chey announced their divorce via a letter to the media.12
Roh argued that her father, former President Roh Tae-woo, contributed to the growth of SK Group, and sought a payout based on the company's valuation in 2026. However, the Supreme Court ruled that her father's financial contributions should not be considered, leading to a valuation based on the date of the appellate court's hearing in 2024, before the AI boom inflated stock prices.6
The Seoul High Court determined that Roh would receive one-third of the assets, while Chey retains two-thirds. The SK Hynix shares, which were valued at about 33,000 won ($30) at the time of their divorce announcement, have surged in value, reaching a $1 trillion valuation in May due to increased demand for semiconductors driven by AI investments.57
Chey's legal team expressed regret over the prolonged proceedings, stating, “Chairman Chey Tae-won is deeply sorry in that [the divorce] proceedings so far have caused concern to many people.” The court's decision is a significant reduction from the 1.38 trillion won initially ordered in 2024, which was overturned due to the illegality of certain funds considered in the asset division.
The case highlights the complexities of asset division in high-profile divorces, particularly in the context of rapidly changing market valuations influenced by technological advancements.
“The $644 million award is less than half the 1.38 trillion won that Chey was ordered to pay in 2024, before the Supreme Court overturned the valuation that considered his ex-wife's father's contributions. Chey's lawyers expressed apology for the prolonged proceedings, stating they would review the ruling before responding.”
