Seoul High Court on Friday, 25 July 2025 ordered SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won to pay 944 billion won ($644 million) in asset division to his former wife, Roh Soh-yeong, in one of South Korea's most closely watched corporate divorce cases. The appellate ruling follows a Supreme Court directive to revisit the matter after the top court finalised the divorce and set Chey's alimony obligation at 2 billion won.

Key Developments in the Ruling

The Seoul High Court ruled that SK Inc. shares held by Chey must be included in the asset division — a central point of contention throughout the prolonged legal battle. The court determined that Roh is entitled to one-third of the couple's total property, with the remainder belonging to Chey.

The 944 billion won figure is notably lower than the 1.38 trillion won the appellate court had initially ordered Chey to pay in May 2024. That earlier ruling had factored in an alleged slush fund worth 30 billion won, reportedly channelled by Roh's late father, former President Roh Tae-woo, to Chey's father as part of the marriage arrangement. The Supreme Court subsequently struck down that portion, ruling that even if the fund had been transferred, its allegedly illegal nature barred it from being considered in asset division.

The Dispute Over SK Inc. Shares

Chey had argued that his SK Inc. shareholding constitutes separate property acquired through inheritance or gifts, and should therefore be excluded from the marital estate. Roh, however, contended that the shares qualify as joint property, citing her contributions through child-rearing and household management over the course of the marriage.

The appellate court sided with Roh on this point, ruling the shares subject to division — a decision that significantly shapes the final settlement figure.

Background: A Nine-Year Legal Battle

Chey initiated divorce proceedings in 2017, two years after publicly acknowledging an extramarital relationship and a child born from it. He and Roh Soh-yeong — daughter of the late former South Korean President Roh Tae-woo — had married in 1988 and have three children together. The case wound through the courts for nearly a decade, escalating to the Supreme Court before being remanded back to the appellate level.

This is the third major ruling in the asset division dispute alone, reflecting the legal complexity of valuing and dividing the estate of one of South Korea's most prominent conglomerate leaders.

What Happens Next

Chey's legal team stated they would review the verdict before deciding whether to file a further appeal, adding that Chey expressed regret for the public attention the case has generated. Lawyers representing Roh declined to comment on the ruling. If Chey does appeal, the case could return once again to the Supreme Court, extending a dispute that has already spanned nearly a decade.