Key facts
- An appellate court ordered SK chairman Chey Tae-won to pay 944.4 billion won ($643.9 million) to his estranged wife Roh Soh-yeong.
- The settlement is the largest in South Korean history.
- Chey Tae-won's net worth has significantly increased due to the performance of SK Hynix.
- The couple was married for nearly 38 years and has three children.
A South Korean appellate court has ordered SK chairman Chey Tae-won to pay 944.4 billion won ($643.9 million) to his estranged wife Roh Soh-yeong in a record divorce settlement. The ruling caps a decade-long legal battle and places financial pressure on the tycoon, whose fortune has been significantly boosted by the performance of SK Hynix, a leading memory chipmaker.
Chey Tae-won and Roh Soh-yeong were married for nearly 38 years and have three children. The Seoul High Court's decision on Friday marks the most expensive divorce in South Korean history. Chey's net worth is estimated at approximately $5.6 billion, having more than doubled in the past year, largely attributed to gains in the memory chip sector driven by AI demand. It remains unclear whether the payment will be made in cash or shares.