SK Group chairman faces US$644m payout to ex-wife after appeal in South Korea’s ‘divorce of the century’
This picture taken on June 26, 2026 shows SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won arriving at a court to attend his retrial regarding the division of assets with his former wife Roh Soh-yeong, director of Art Center Nabi, at the Seoul High Court in Seoul. — Yonhap/AFP pic
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Summary
A South Korean court has reduced the divorce settlement amount for Chey Tae-won, chairman of the SK Group, to 944 billion won (US$644 million) from a previous order of 1.38 trillion won. The legal battle, dubbed the "divorce of the century," involves the division of assets, including Chey's substantial stake in SK Group, which increased significantly during his marriage to ex-wife Roh Soh-yeong. The acrimonious case continues to unfold, with potential for further appeals, and highlights the complexities around asset valuation and contributions in high-profile marital separations. The couple, married since 1988, have lived apart for over 15 years, with the legal proceedings initiated after Chey filed for divorce in 2017.
