Samsung heir to pay W8.6 bil. in divorce case

By Kim Se-jeong

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

Seoul Family Court ruled on the divorce case between the Samsung owner family’s first daughter Lee Boo-jin and her husband Lim Woo-jae, Thursday, ordering Lee to pay her husband 8.6 billion won ($7.6 million) in distribution of property.

The court granted Lee, CEO of Hotel Shilla, custody of their son, while giving the father monthly visitation rights.

The two married in 1999 and began divorce proceedings in 2015. They have one son together.

Lee’s lawyers welcomed the court’s decision, while Lim’s lawyers said he would appeal for more money. He requested 1.2 trillion won ($1 billion).

We’re not sure the figure reflected Lee’s stock assets,” his lawyer was quoted as saying by Yonhap. In April, business magazine Forbes estimated her wealth at 1.9 billion dollars (1.8 trillion won).

The couple’s divorce proceedings were prolonged due to jurisdiction complications.

The case was initially filed with a district court in Suwon, south of Seoul. In early 2016, Lim filed the case separately with the Seoul Family Court, while appealing the district court’s ruling. Last November, the Suwon appeals court officially handed the case over to the family court.