Chey Tae-won, Roh Soh-yeong Property Division Case Heads to Mediation

The 'divorce of the century' involving SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won and Roh Soh-yeong, director of the Art Center Nabi, is heading into a new phase as the Seoul High Court has scheduled a mediation session. This move signals the court's intention to facilitate an agreement between the estranged couple regarding the division of assets, estimated to be in the trillions of won, before resorting to a full trial.

The legal battle has been marked by dramatic shifts in asset valuation. While the initial ruling placed the joint marital property at 214.2 billion won with Roh's share at 66.5 billion won, a subsequent appeal significantly increased these figures to 4.115 trillion won and 1.38 trillion won respectively. However, the Supreme Court overturned these higher valuations, remanding the case back to the Seoul High Court for a revised calculation.

Roh's side had argued that her father's alleged slush funds played a role in SK's business growth, a claim the Supreme Court dismissed, deeming illegal funds ineligible for consideration in property division. The divorce itself and the 2 billion won in alimony awarded to Roh have been finalized. The upcoming mediation on May 13th represents a critical juncture, offering a final opportunity for the couple to reach a settlement before the court imposes a decision.