Hotel Shilla President Lee Boo-jin divorces

Lee Boo-jin, left, and Im Woo-jae

Lee Boo-jin, president of Hotel Shilla and eldest daughter of Samsung Group Chairman Lee Kun-hee, divorced Im Woo-jae, vice president of Samsung Electro-Mechanics, Thursday.

Lee, 45, and Im, 47, had been married for 17 years.

A Suwon district court ruled partially in favor of Lee, who filed a suit over divorce and parental rights against Im.

The two did not attend the trial.

"Personal differences" were cited as the underlying reason.

The 1999 marriage between the eldest daughter of Korea’s no.1 business tycoon and a rank-and-file employee at an affiliate made headlines.

Lee and Im have a son.