Lee Yeon-woo is a financial journalist at The Korea Times. Her wide range of reporting includes policies, macroeconomics, stock market, companies and even crypto. She is passionate about connecting the dots in Korean finance and making it easier for foreign nationals to understand. Based on her previous experience as a national reporter, she also has a keen interest in social issues within the sector, including gender equality and ESG. Your tips and insights are always appreciated. You can send them to yanu@koreatimes.co.kr.
Court orders SK chairman to pay $50.5 million in divorce settlement
SK Chairman Chey Tae-won, left, and Director of Art Center Nabi Roh Soh-Yeong, right, were separated by divorce Tuesday, marking the end of their 34 years of marriage. Yonhap
By Lee Yeon-woo
By Lee Yeon-woo
The court approved the divorce of SK Chairman Chey Tae-won and his wife, Roh Soh-yeong, director of Art Center Nabi.
If neither side appeals, the high-powered couple will end their 34 years of marriage marked by ups and downs years after Chey's public acknowledgment that he has been in extramarital relationship with a woman and that they had a child out of wedlock.
Seoul Family Court approved their divorce on Tuesday, ordering Chey to pay alimony of 100 million won ($75,700) and a property settlement of 66.5 billion won ($50.4 million) to Roh.
Chey, the eldest son of the late former SK Chairman Chey Jong-hyun, tied the knot with Roh, the daughter of Korean former President Roh Tae-woo, in 1998 at the Blue House. It is known that both had met while studying in the United States. They have two daughters and one son together.
In 2015, Chey revealed that he had fathered a child out of wedlock and expressed his intention to split up with Roh through a three-page letter sent to Segye Ilbo, a local newspaper.
He filed for a divorce settlement in 2017, citing their difference in personalities as the reason. He filed for a divorce in 2018.
Roh declined to accept the divorce settlement requested by Chey. However, in 2019, she said on Facebook that she sees no hope at the moment and will let him find his happiness. She also filed for a divorce subsequently in 2019.