SK Group Chairman Ordered to Pay $644 Million in High-Profile Divorce Settlement

In a landmark ruling, SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won has been ordered to pay his ex-wife Roh Soh-yeong 944 billion won ($644 million) in a divorce settlement. This case, dubbed the 'divorce of the century,' follows revelations of Chey's infidelity. The settlement amount has been reduced from a previous award of 1.38 trillion won, but the decision remains subject to further legal scrutiny. The case has drawn significant public interest due to the high-profile nature of the individuals involved and the substantial financial implications. As SK Group continues to thrive in various sectors, including AI, the outcome of this case could have lasting effects on Chey's reputation and the conglomerate's future.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jul 25, 2026, 19:08 IST

Court Ruling in High-Profile Divorce Case

Chey Tae-won, the chairman of SK Group, a major South Korean conglomerate, has been mandated by a court to pay his former spouse, Roh Soh-yeong, a staggering 944 billion won (approximately $644 million) as part of their divorce settlement. This case, often referred to as the "divorce of the century" by local media, follows the couple's separation after it was revealed that Chey had a child with another woman. The recent court ruling has reduced the previous settlement amount of 1.38 trillion won that was awarded to Roh in 2024. However, this decision is not yet conclusive and may be subject to further legal challenges.

Chey's legal representatives expressed that the SK Group chairman feels "deeply sorry" for the public distress caused by the divorce proceedings and indicated that they will determine their next steps after analyzing the court's decision. The couple was married for 35 years, and Roh is the daughter of former South Korean President Roh Tae-woo, who held office from 1988 to 1993.

During the initial trial, Roh's legal team contended that her father significantly contributed to Chey's business success. A lower court had accepted this argument, revealing that Roh Tae-woo had provided 30 billion won from a covert political fund to assist Chey in 1991. Consequently, the court had mandated Chey to pay 1.38 trillion won. However, South Korea's Supreme Court later overturned this ruling, stating that the funds originated from an illegally established slush fund and thus could not be classified as shared assets.

SK Group is recognized as one of South Korea's largest family-owned business conglomerates, known as chaebols. Established in 1953 as a textile firm, it has diversified into various sectors, including telecommunications, energy, and semiconductors. Its subsidiary, SK Hynix, ranks among the world's leading memory chip manufacturers, supplying products to major companies like Nvidia. Reports indicate that the company has significantly profited from the global artificial intelligence (AI) surge, recently achieving a market valuation exceeding $1 trillion on the South Korean stock exchange.

The increasing success of SK Group has also elevated Chey's public profile. Recently, South Korean President Lee Jae Myung commended Chey and Samsung chairman Lee Jae-yong, referring to them as "heroes of the Korean people" while unveiling a substantial AI investment initiative. The divorce case has garnered extensive attention in South Korea due to the substantial settlement figure and the high-profile nature of the families involved.