A South Korean high court on Thursday ordered SK Group chairman Chey Tae-won to pay his ex-wife Roh Soh-yeong 944 billion won (about $720 million) in a landmark divorce settlement, ruling that she is entitled to one-third of the couple's marital assets in cash.
The Seoul High Court recognised SK shares as divisible marital property and apportioned them one-third to Roh and two-thirds to Chey, who leads SK Group, one of South Korea's largest conglomerates. The ruling substantially reduces a 2024 high-court award of 1.38 trillion won that had been remanded on appeal. In October 2025, the Supreme Court had upheld 2 billion won in emotional damages while sending the property-division question back to the lower court.
The legal battle began after Chey publicly acknowledged an extramarital child in 2015, triggering the divorce proceedings. Roh is the daughter of former South Korean president Roh Tae-woo. Chey was previously convicted twice of illegal trading and embezzlement but received presidential pardons both times.