Key Points:
- SK Group and SK Hynix Chairman Chey Tae-won filed a formal appeal with the Supreme Court against a massive property division ruling.
- The Seoul High Court previously ordered the billionaire executive to pay his former wife, Roh Soh-yeong, a cash settlement of 944 billion won, roughly $643 million.
- Legal teams representing the tech tycoon argue that the asset division ratio is flawed and question the legal appropriateness of factoring volatile stock values into the settlement.
- The high-profile legal battle, widely dubbed the divorce of the century in South Korea, continues to draw intense global media attention.
The high-stakes legal feud surrounding one of Asia’s most prominent technology leaders is heading back to the highest court. SK Group and SK Hynix Chairman Chey Tae-won formally filed a second appeal with the Supreme Court, challenging a lower appellate court order requiring him to pay a staggering 944 billion won, or approximately $643 million, in property division to his former wife, Roh Soh-yeong.
The legal escalation comes after the Seoul High Court issued its ruling following a previous remand by the top court. While the newly determined settlement represents a trimmed-down figure compared to an earlier, even larger appellate decision, it still stands as the largest divorce property settlement in South Korean history. The core of the dispute centers on the valuation and division of corporate assets tied to the conglomerate, whose semiconductor subsidiary, SK Hynix, experienced explosive financial growth driven by the global artificial intelligence hardware boom.
Lawmakers and legal experts closely follow the case because of its potential implications for corporate control and share ownership. Chairman Chey’s defense team maintains that legal errors persist in how the appellate court calculated the asset division ratio. Furthermore, legal representatives argue that it is fundamentally inappropriate to factor volatile stock price fluctuations into a cash property split. Raising nearly 1 trillion won in immediate cash requires delicate handling to prevent destabilizing large share blocks or disrupting core management rights.
The personal dispute began years ago after the billionaire executive publicly acknowledged an extramarital relationship. What started as a private family matter evolved into a complex corporate legal war, intertwining prominent political and business dynasties. As the case returns to the Supreme Court for further review, both sides prepare for another round of intense legal scrutiny.
For the broader business community, the ongoing litigation serves as a reminder of how personal wealth entanglements intersect with major corporate entities. While the ultimate legal outcome remains pending before the top court, the latest appeal ensures that the historic divorce battle will remain a central focus of international media and financial markets.
