South Korea’s Supreme Court on Thursday partially overturned a previous ruling that ordered SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won to pay nearly $1 billion to his estranged wife, Roh So-yeong, marking a major development in one of the country’s most high-profile divorce cases.
The court’s decision sends the case back to the Seoul High Court for a new review, after Chey challenged the earlier ruling that required him to pay 1.38 trillion won ($972.5 million), the largest divorce settlement in South Korean history.
In 2024, the Seoul High Court had ruled that Chey’s shares in the conglomerate’s holding company, SK Inc (034730.KS), should be considered part of the couple’s joint assets.
It ordered Chey to pay 1.38 trillion won in cash and an additional 2 billion won in alimony to Roh, who is the daughter of former South Korean President Roh Tae-woo.
The ruling overturned a 2022 lower court decision that had awarded Roh a far smaller amount. Following the announcement, shares of SK Inc fell 5.4% amid investor concerns over the potential impact on the group’s leadership and financial stability.
SK Group, South Korea’s second-largest conglomerate, controls assets worth about 363 trillion won ($266 billion) as of 2025, according to the Korea Fair Trade Commission. Its affiliates include major companies such as chipmaker SK Hynix (000660.KS).
The Supreme Court’s partial reversal means the final settlement amount could change significantly once the lower court re-examines the case.
The long-running legal battle, which has spanned nearly a decade, continues to draw widespread public attention due to its scale, corporate implications, and the prominence of both families involved.
Source: Reuters
Written By Rodney Mbua
