A Seoul appeals court has ordered SK Group chairman Chey Tae-won to pay his ex-wife, Roh Soh-yeong, a record-breaking $645 million settlement following a high-profile property division ruling.

Key Points

• The Seoul appeals court awarded Roh Soh-yeong KRW 944 billion, marking the largest divorce settlement in South Korean history.
• Judges ruled that Roh contributed to the growth of SK Group’s value through domestic support and public-facing activities during the marriage.
• The court rejected Chey’s claim that his SK Inc. shareholdings were inherited assets exempt from the property division.
• Shares of SK Inc. dropped 3.82% and SK Hynix fell 8.34% following the announcement of the court's decision.
• Chey Tae-won currently holds a net worth of approximately $5.3 billion, ranking him as the ninth wealthiest person in South Korea.

Why it Matters

This ruling creates significant uncertainty for the leadership of SK Group, one of South Korea's largest conglomerates and a critical supplier of AI memory chips to Nvidia. The massive payout and subsequent stock volatility highlight the potential risks to corporate stability when personal legal disputes intersect with the holdings of major public companies.