A high-profile divorce legal battle in South Korea between SK Group chairman Chey Tae-won and his former wife Roh So-young has lasted nearly a decade. The marriage ended after Chey publicly acknowledged an affair and a child outside marriage. The legal dispute focused on the division of marital assets, including SK Group shares. Courts have issued varying rulings on the property settlement and alimony, with the latest court order requiring Chey to pay Roh 944 billion won. The case raises significant questions about marital asset division in family-run conglomerates.
Country: South Korea
State/Province: None
City/Region: Seoul
Incident Type: Self Harm / Self Victim
Relationship Status: Divorced
Relationship Duration: Approximately 27 years
Incident Date: Jan. 1, 2017
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How the relationship or connection began.
Approximately 27 years
Important relationship phases recorded for this case.
Reported red flags or early concern points.
Contributing factors and possible motives from the available sources.
2017-01-01
Recorded relationship or case outcome.
English labels are shown first. Original-language titles are preserved for source verification.
CNA · Original language: English
South Korea's high-profile divorce legal battle
Infidelity
The relationship ended following public acknowledgment of an extramarital affair and a child outside the marriage by Chey Tae-won. The subsequent legal battle focused on the division of marital assets, particularly shares in the family-run conglomerate SK Group. The case highlights complexities in asset division in high-net-worth divorces involving family businesses.
The legal battle has spanned nearly a decade with multiple court rulings adjusting the property settlement and alimony amounts. The Supreme Court ordered a rehearing due to legal errors in asset valuation. The latest ruling confirmed SK Group shares as marital assets but excluded shares transferred before the marriage breakdown and funds from the former father-in-law. The case remains potentially open to appeal.
There was legal uncertainty regarding the inclusion of SK Group shares as marital assets and the calculation of the property settlement amount, leading to multiple court rulings and a Supreme Court rehearing.
Chey Tae-won and Roh So-young married in 1988 and had three children. The marriage broke down in 2015 after Chey admitted to an affair and a child outside marriage. Chey filed for divorce in 2017, triggering a legal dispute over asset division. Initial court rulings awarded Roh a smaller settlement, which was later increased by an appeals court to include SK Group shares. The Supreme Court set aside the property division for recalculation but upheld alimony. The latest ruling reduced the settlement amount but confirmed the inclusion of SK shares as marital assets, excluding certain transferred shares and funds.
High-profile divorces involving family-run conglomerates can lead to prolonged legal battles over asset division. Public acknowledgment of infidelity can trigger separation and complex financial disputes. Courts may vary in rulings on what constitutes marital assets, especially with shares in family businesses. Legal clarity on asset valuation and timing of transfers is critical.
Public acknowledgment of an affair and a child outside marriage were key early signals of marital breakdown.
Court rulings on asset division and alimony amounts helped connect the financial and legal dispute to the marital breakdown.
Court documents and rulings on property settlement and alimony were the strongest evidence types.
Not reported.
Follow-up court rulings adjusted the property settlement amounts and clarified the inclusion of SK Group shares as marital assets.
Whether the dispute will finally end depends on potential appeals by either party.