SK Group's Chairman Chey Tae-won Seeks to Focus on Business after Supreme Court Ruling

Strategic Insights -

Seoul's second-largest conglomerate, SK Group, gained relief Thursday after the Supreme Court ordered a review of a lower court ruling in the high-profile divorce case involving its Chairman Chey Tae-won. The ruling sent the case back to the appellate court, allowing Chey to focus on his business initiatives without the immediate threat of having to sell his stakes in SK affiliates. Chey's estranged wife, Roh Soh-yeong, had been ordered to receive 1.38 trillion won in property division and 2 billion won in alimony. However, the Supreme Court's decision has the potential to reduce Chey's payment. Chey is now set to attend the Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, where he will join other top business leaders to discuss cooperation plans for the Stargate AI infrastructure project. He will also preside over the APEC CEO Summit in South Korea.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Supreme Court has ordered a review of the lower court ruling in the high-profile divorce case involving SK Group's Chairman Chey Tae-won, allowing him to focus on his business initiatives.
  • Chey was ordered to pay his estranged wife, Roh Soh-yeong, 1.38 trillion won in property division and 2 billion won in alimony.
  • The Supreme Court's decision has the potential to reduce Chey's payment due to the recalculation of the property division.
  • Chey holds a 17.9 percent stake in SK Inc., the group's holding company, but his control remains vulnerable as his combined stake, including that of friendly investors, is estimated at around 30 percent.
  • Chey is scheduled to attend the Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, where he will join other top business leaders to discuss cooperation plans for the Stargate AI infrastructure project.
  • He will also preside over the APEC CEO Summit in South Korea's southern city of Gyeongju on October 28-31.

Statistics:

  • 1.38 trillion won: The amount of property division that Chey was initially ordered to pay to his estranged wife, Roh Soh-yeong.
  • 2 billion won: The amount of alimony that Chey was initially ordered to pay to Roh Soh-yeong.
  • 30 percent: The estimated combined stake of Chey and friendly investors in SK Inc., the group's holding company.
  • 17.9 percent: The stake that Chey holds in SK Inc., the group's holding company.

Sources:

  • Yonhap News Agency (2025) "Supreme Court orders review of ruling in Chey Tae-won's divorce case"
  • Yonhap News Agency (2025) "Chey Tae-won to attend Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida to discuss Stargate AI project"
  • Yonhap News Agency (2025) "Chey Tae-won to preside over APEC CEO Summit in South Korea"