Why does Chairman Choi have to pay such a large settlement?

The court recognized SK Hynix shares as marital property, and AI-driven stock surge increased asset valuation significantly.

How was the 9.44 trillion KRW amount calculated?

The court awarded one-third of marital assets to the ex-wife, based on stock valuation during the marriage period.

What impact will this ruling have on SK Group's management?

Cash payment requirement may force share sales, potentially weakening Choi's control over the conglomerate.

Why is this called the 'divorce of the century'?

It's the largest divorce settlement in South Korean history, reflecting AI's impact on wealth distribution.

Who is Noh Hee-young?

Daughter of former President Roh Tae-woo and director of Art Center Nabi, active in cultural sectors.

SK Group's 'Divorce of the Century' Ruling: Choi Tae-won Ordered to Pay 944 Billion KRW in Landmark Settlement

Published Jul 24, 2026 3:40 PM ・ Updated Jul 24, 2026 4:08 PM ・ 4 min read ・ Source: PR Times

Seoul High Court ruled that SK Group Chairman Choi Tae-won must pay his ex-wife, Noh Hee-young, 944 billion KRW ($644 million) in cash for property division. Driven by AI-driven SK Hynix stock surge, this sets a record for South Korea's highest divorce settlement.

On Friday (24th), the Seoul High Court in South Korea issued a retrial ruling in the property division case between SK Group Chairman Choi Tae-won and his ex-wife, Nabi Art Center Director Noh Hee-young. The court ordered Choi to pay Noh 944 billion KRW (approximately $644 million) in cash as a property settlement. If this ruling becomes final, it will mark the highest divorce property division amount in South Korean history.

Dubbed the 'divorce of the century' by South Korean society, this legal dispute originated from the 1988 marriage between Choi and Noh Hee-young, daughter of former President Roh Tae-woo. The wedding was seen as a symbol of deep political-business ties. However, Choi publicly admitted to an extramarital affair and a child out of wedlock in 2015, then formally filed for divorce in 2017. Noh initially refused the divorce but shifted her stance in 2019—after their three children reached adulthood—to pursue property division and compensation.

The reason this retrial award is significantly higher than the first trial's 66.5 billion KRW lies in the recent two-year AI computing boom, which has driven SK Hynix's stock price to surge. Choi has frequent interactions with NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang, and his personal net worth has ballooned to approximately $5.6 billion. In this ruling, the court leaned toward treating Choi's holdings in SK Group's holding company as divisible marital property, setting the division ratio at one-third for Noh and two-thirds for Choi.

Capital markets are closely watching whether this massive payout will destabilize Choi's shareholding and management control over SK Group. Analysts note that since the court requires cash payment and the amount falls within expected ranges, it may help dissipate stock price uncertainty and safeguard management stability. Choi's representative lawyer apologized for the concerns caused by this matter and stated they will decide whether to appeal again after reviewing the court's ruling.

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Source: PR Times
Category: News

SK Group's 'Divorce of the Century' Ruling: Choi Tae-won Ordered to Pay 944 Billion KRW in Landmark Settlement

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