South Korean chip giant's chairman ordered to pay $566 million in 'divorce of the century'

The chairman of South Korea's SK Group, a major player in the semiconductor industry, has been ordered to pay $566 million to his ex-wife, Roh Soh-yeong, in a landmark divorce settlement. The Seoul High Court ruled that Roh is entitled to a substantial portion of the couple's assets, specifically one-third of Chey Tae-won's shares in the conglomerate. This decision stems from a protracted legal battle that has captivated the nation, with media dubbing it the "divorce of the century."

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The defendant's participation has appreciated substantially during the marriage.

The court's decision highlighted Roh's contributions, stating that she played a role in the company's growth through her domestic work, childcare, and public activities related to SK Group. The ruling also took into account the dramatic appreciation of SK Group's value during the marriage, significantly boosted by the global artificial intelligence boom, in which SK Hynix is a key participant. Chey Tae-won's personal wealth has more than tripled since 2015, the year he admitted to having a child outside of his marriage.

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The plaintiff contributed to this increase through her household work, childcare, and public activities related to SK Group.

The couple married in 1988 and had three children, but had been living separately for about 15 years. The legal dispute, ongoing since 2022, has centered on the division of assets accumulated during their marriage. Roh Soh-yeong had previously received a separate alimony payment of $1.2 million. This latest ruling underscores the immense financial stakes involved in high-profile divorces, particularly when they involve the leaders of global technology giants.

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The Court took into account the sharp rise in the value of the defendant's holdings to determine the ratio of asset division.