SK Chairman's $3.4 Billion Divorce Battle Heads to Supreme Court

The high-stakes divorce settlement between SK Group Chairman Choi Tae-won and his ex-wife Roh So-young has entered a new phase. Legal documents confirm that Choi has filed an appeal with South Korea's Supreme Court, challenging a lower court's order to pay 944 billion won ($3.4 billion) in asset division.

Case Background and Recent Ruling

This closely watched corporate divorce saga began in 2017. In a landmark decision on July 24, the Seoul High Court ruled that SK Group shares constituted marital property subject to division. The court allocated the assets in a 2:1 ratio, awarding Roh approximately 944 billion won—a sum described by local media as one of the largest publicly disclosed divorce settlements in the country's chaebol history.

A significant earlier development saw the Supreme Court exclude considerations regarding funds connected to former President Roh Tae-woo when assessing Roh So-young's contributions to SK Group. This exclusion shaped the subsequent property valuation approach.

Strategic Appeal and Broader Implications

Choi's legal representatives stated the appeal followed comprehensive deliberation. They emphasized intentions to navigate proceedings in a manner minimizing disruption to shareholders and corporate operations.

Should the original judgment stand, Choi would additionally incur annual delayed interest at a 5% rate—amounting to roughly 47.2 billion won ($225 million) per year. Such financial obligations could significantly impact both personal wealth management and corporate shareholding stability.

  • Case Duration: Ongoing since 2017, spanning over six years
  • Financial Scale: 944 billion won settlement plus ~47.2 billion won annual interest
  • Legal Stage: Multiple court tiers addressed, now at Supreme Court level
  • Societal Significance: Viewed as a benchmark for chaebol family divorce proceedings

The Supreme Court has not yet announced whether it will accept the appeal or provide a timeline for review. Legal analysts suggest its eventual ruling will not only determine the fate of this record settlement but could also establish important precedents for future high-net-worth divorce asset divisions in South Korea.