SK Hynix Leader’s Divorce Case Ruled Today; Massive Wealth Split Could Reshape Corporate Landscape

SK Hynix chief Choi Tae-won is set to get a new court ruling in his prolonged divorce dispute with ex-wife Roh Soo-young. The case is poised to become the highest-compensation divorce case in South Korean history. The Seoul High Court will announce the ruling on Friday, determining how much of Choi’s wealth will be divided with Roh. Choi’s current net worth stands at around $5.5 billion. The core of the ruling hinges on how South Korean courts will evaluate the value of Roh’s contributions to building one of the country’s largest corporate empires. Roh initially sought 42.29% of Choi’s SK stake, a demand that could have threatened his control of the firm, before revising her claim to a cash settlement. In 2024, a court ordered Choi to pay Roh 1.38 trillion won (approximately $10 billion) in divorce compensation, marking a new record for South Korea’s highest divorce payout. But after Choi filed an appeal, the Supreme Court of Korea overturned the ruling, reasoning that the earlier judgment incorrectly factored in contributions to the couple’s wealth from illegal funds allegedly tied to Roh’s father, former South Korean President Roh Tae-woo.