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Published Jul 24, 2026Updated Jul 26 Major5
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SK Hynix Chair Ordered to Pay $644M in Divorce Settlement
Seoul High Court on July 24 ordered SK Hynix chairman Chey Tae-won to pay 944 billion won ($644 million) to his former wife Roh Soh-yeong in a retrial settlement, potentially South Korea's largest divorce case. The nine-year dispute over marital asset division centers on SK Hynix's dramatic valuation increase driven by artificial intelligence chip demand, with disagreement over whether this growth reflects Roh's contributions or business operations alone.
Quick Facts
- Retrial judgment on divorce settlement and marital asset division
- Court ordered payment of 944 billion won in settlement
- Chey admitted to extramarital relationship and fathering a child outside marriage in 2015
- Dispute over valuation methodology for SK Group assets
- Court ruling that Roh entitled to one-third of marital assets
Seoul High Court on July 24, 2026, ordered Chey Tae-won, 65, chairman of SK Group and its subsidiary SK Hynix, to pay 944 billion won (approximately $644 million USD or 45.98 billion CNY) to his former wife Roh Soh-yeong in a retrial decision. The judgment represents a reduction from a 2024 appeals court ruling of 1.38 trillion won, but remains substantially higher than a 2022 first-instance award of 665 billion won. If the ruling becomes final, it would be South Korea's largest divorce settlement on record.
The nearly nine-year legal dispute centers on the division of marital assets accumulated during the couple's 27-year marriage from 1988 to 2015. Roh, 65, is the daughter of former South Korean President Roh Tae-woo and has worked as director of a digital art museum. Chey publicly acknowledged in 2015 that he had maintained an extramarital relationship and fathered a child outside marriage, stating that the couple had lived apart for over a decade. He formally filed for divorce in 2017. The couple have three children together.
The dispute has largely centered on how to value SK Group's assets, particularly following SK Hynix's surge in value driven by artificial intelligence industry demand. SK Hynix manufactures high-bandwidth memory (HBM) chips supplied to Nvidia and other AI infrastructure companies. According to Bloomberg's billionaire index, Chey's net worth is approximately $5.6 billion USD, more than doubled over the past year. Roh's legal team argued that she contributed to asset growth through homemaking, childcare, and public-facing activities related to SK Group. Chey's defense maintained that the company's recent valuation increases stemmed from business operations and market conditions unrelated to Roh's contributions.
Seoul High Court ruled that Roh was entitled to one-third of the couple's marital assets in cash, acknowledging that Chey's shareholdings increased substantially during the marriage and recognizing Roh's contributions. However, the Supreme Court in October 2025 rejected a lower court's previous reasoning that included a 30 billion won fund allegedly created by Roh's father, as such funds likely originated from illegal sources and could not be counted as legitimate marital property.
The court has not yet clarified whether the settlement will be paid in cash or stock. Either party may appeal to the Supreme Court, meaning the judgment is not yet final. Legal experts note that if payment is made in cash rather than stock, it could avoid concerns about potential dilution of Chey's SK Group shareholdings and associated market volatility.
Why This Matters
The Seoul High Court's judgment establishes measurable precedent for how South Korean courts value appreciated marital assets tied to publicly traded holdings during prolonged divorce proceedings. The 944 billion won award affects SK Hynix shareholding structure and potential future liquidity decisions by its chairman; either party's appeal to the Supreme Court could alter the settlement amount and payment method (cash vs. stock), with direct implications for SK Group's market capitalization and Chey's personal net worth valuation. The ruling also clarifies judicial treatment of company-generated versus individually-contributed wealth in high-net-worth dissolutions, shaping future cases involving substantial asset appreciation in growth sectors.
Timeline & Sources
Jan 1, 2017
WireChey formally filed for divorce; Roh initially refused but later filed counter-suit for asset division
Jan 1, 2022
WireFirst-instance court ruling ordered Chey to pay 665 billion won in settlement plus 1 billion won spiritual damages
Jul 24, 2026
WireSeoul High Court issued retrial judgment ordering Chey to pay 944 billion won to Roh; ruling not yet final as either party may appeal to Supreme Court
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