South Korean AI chip tycoon appeals record divorce asset ruling

Seoul, South Korea - South Korean AI chip magnate Chey Tae-won has appealed a ruling ordering him to pay $666 million (approximately R10.77 billion) to his ex-wife, Roh Soh-yeong, in the nation's most substantial divorce settlement to date. The AI chip tycoon, who heads the SK Group, is the chairman of the world-leading memory chip manufacturer SK hynix, a critical component of South Korea's tech-driven economy.

Initially, the Seoul High Court in 2024 mandated Chey to pay 1.38 trillion won (around $1.1 billion) to his former wife, causing local press to dub it "the divorce of the century." However, the tycoon successfully appealed to the Supreme Court, which ordered a reduction to 944 billion won ($666 million) in July 2025, maintaining the largest divorce asset settlement ever awarded in South Korea.

The Seoul High Court recently ruled that Roh was entitled to a cash payout equivalent to a third of the marital assets, encompassing Chey's SK shares, based on her familial role and support for SK Group endeavors. Chey's lawyers announced his appeal to the Supreme Court on Saturday, committing to minimizing any adverse effect on shareholders and the company's management.

This appeal prolongs a legal saga that has drawn focus to Chey's authority over SK Group as the AI boom escalates the value of its chip assets. Since December 2015, when Chey acknowledged his extramarital affair, SK Group shares have surged more than threefold in value. Reports suggest Chey proposed a deal to Roh, offering a combination of stock and cash to settle the asset division, reducing the market impact.

However, Roh reportedly insisted on receiving full payment in cash, which would necessitate Chey to dispose of a substantial number of shares, triggering his appeal. The 2024 ruling attributed the payout to a 30 billion won slush fund claimed by Roh's late father, the former South Korean president Roh Tae-woo, for propelling SK Group's growth.

Nevertheless, the Supreme Court overturned this claim in October 2024, stating that the cash likely originated from illegal bribes and must not be considered. The Supreme Court separately ordered Chey and his lover, Kim Hee-young, to pay Roh 2 billion won in alimony, which she paid in 2024.