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SK Chairman Ordered to Pay Ex-Wife $640 Million
24 Jul
Summary
- Court awards $640 million in a high-profile South Korean divorce case.
- The ruling impacts SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won's stake.
- Roh Soh-yeong receives a reduced settlement amount compared to a prior ruling.
Seoul High Court has ordered SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won to pay his former wife, Roh Soh-yeong, 944 billion won ($640 million) in a divorce settlement finalized on July 24, 2026. This figure represents a reduction from the 1.38 trillion won previously ordered by an appeals court in 2024. The Supreme Court had previously ruled that funds allegedly provided by Roh's father, former President Roh Tae-woo, could not be counted as a protected contribution. The divorce itself and a $1.36 million damages payment were already settled.
The court included Chey's 17.9% stake in SK Inc and other holdings in the marital estate, valuing them as of April 16, 2024. Despite a sharp rise in these shareholdings after the initial appeal hearing, the court decided against a later valuation date. The property division ratio was set at one-third for Roh and two-thirds for Chey, a slight decrease from the prior 35% share for Roh. Chey will maintain ownership of the shares and fulfill the award through a cash payment, preserving his management control of SK Group.
