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.
- This ruling is the most expensive divorce settlement in South Korean history.
- Chey Tae-won's fortune has been boosted by SK Hynix's performance amid the AI boom.
- The couple was married for nearly 38 years and has three children.
A South Korean appellate court has ordered SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won to pay his estranged wife Roh Soh-yeong a record 944.4 billion won ($643.9 million) in a 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 benefiting from the AI boom.
Chey Tae-won and Roh Soh-yeong were married for nearly 38 years and have three children. The Seoul High Court's decision 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.