The Supreme Court of South Korea has overturned the lower court’s decision in the high-profile divorce case involving SK Group Chair Chey Tae-won, marking a major shift in the property division ruling. As a result, the verdict temporarily eases financial and ownership pressures on one of the country’s largest conglomerates.
Furthermore, the top court ruled that the Seoul High Court had misapplied legal principles in calculating marital assets. Specifically, it found flaws in the inclusion of a 30 billion won fund, which originated from former President Roh Tae-woo and was linked to illegal activities. Consequently, the case now returns to the appellate court for a retrial.
Previously, Chey had faced an order to pay 1.38 trillion won in property division and 2 billion won in alimony to his estranged wife, Roh Soh-yeong. The property division ruling represented the largest divorce settlement in South Korea’s history. However, the Supreme Court maintained only the alimony portion and dismissed the rest for further review.
Moreover, Chey argued that much of SK Group’s value stemmed from inheritance, which should remain outside marital asset calculations under Korean law. The top court partially agreed, emphasizing that any assets connected to illicit funds could not qualify as divisible property. This interpretation, therefore, significantly influenced the property division ruling.
Following the announcement, Chey’s attorney expressed relief that the Supreme Court corrected what they called factual and legal errors. In addition, the lawyer said the court clarified that SK Group’s success stemmed from leadership, not political or financial favoritism.
The case has drawn strong public interest due to its mix of personal drama, corporate implications, and political history. Analysts also said the original verdict could have forced Chey to sell SK Inc. or SK Siltron shares for funds. As a result, investors had feared potential disruptions to the group’s control structure.
Chey and Roh married in 1988 and have three children. Their legal battle began in 2017 after Chey admitted to an extramarital affair. Since then, the lengthy proceedings have continued to capture public attention, illustrating the intersection between personal lives and corporate governance.
Looking ahead, experts predict that the retrial will likely reduce the financial burden on Chey. Consequently, a smaller settlement could allow him to maintain his 17.8 percent stake in SK Inc., valued at nearly 2.81 trillion won. Overall, the property ruling has already reshaped debates on fairness, legality, and corporate transparency in South Korea’s courts.
