South Korean billionaire ordered to pay ex-wife $645 million in high-profile divorce case

An appeals court in South Korea has ordered billionaire Chey Tae-won to pay his former wife Roh Soh-yeong about $645 million in cash, concluding a divorce dispute that began in 2015. Roh had sought nearly $1 billion, arguing that she was entitled to half of Chey’s assets, which include the SK Group conglomerate.

The judges based their calculation on an earlier valuation of Chey’s wealth, before the recent surge in SK Hynix shares linked to the artificial-intelligence market. Chey’s legal team said they are reviewing the decision and have not ruled out an appeal to the Supreme Court.

The case attracted nationwide attention because it involves one of the country’s wealthiest businessmen and the daughter of former President Roh Tae-woo. It also raised questions about the role of family connections in the growth of the SK empire. Roh’s lawyers presented evidence that her family had contributed financially to the business, a claim Chey’s lawyers denied.

In a separate ruling, the court ordered Chey and his longtime partner, Kim Hee-young, to pay Roh about $1.5 million in damages, citing the affair and the birth of a child outside the marriage as factors that caused emotional harm.

Public reaction has been divided, with some commentators arguing that the payout should have been larger, while others contend that the amount is excessive. The decision underscores the legal complexities of dividing wealth in high-profile divorces in South Korea.