Lead

SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won and his former wife, Roh Soh-yeong, failed to reach an agreement in a court mediation session for the division of their assets on Monday, according to Yonhap News Agency. The failure sends the high-profile divorce settlement case back to trial proceedings at the Seoul High Court, which has scheduled oral arguments for June 26.

Coverage Comparison

All three Yonhap reports consistently detail the core facts: the couple attended mediation sessions, the central dispute over SK Inc. stocks, and the procedural history of the case. The first report (dated June 15, with updates) notes that the mediation session failed and that the court moved to oral arguments. The second report, also from June 15, presents the same information but focuses on the couple's appearance at court, including Chairman Chey's comment to reporters that he hoped "the mediation goes well and that it ends quickly." A third report, published on June 26, confirms the mediation breakdown and states that the Seoul High Court will deliver its verdict on July 24.

While the reported facts are consistent across the three articles, the dates of publication and level of detail vary. The first and second articles were written on the day of the mediation session, while the third provides a later update. The single-source nature of the July 24 verdict date means it has not been independently corroborated, though it comes from Yonhap, South Korea's leading wire service.

Key Claims

  • Mediation Failure: Chey and Roh attended a second mediation session on June 15, but the two sides failed to narrow their differences, leading the Seoul High Court to end mediation and resume trial proceedings, according to Yonhap.
  • Core Disagreement: The central dispute is whether Chey's 17.9 percent stake in SK Inc. should be included in the asset division. Chey's side argues the stocks were inherited or gifted and are therefore separate property, while Roh's side claims they fall under marital property, citing her child-rearing and household contributions.
  • Prior Court Rulings: In May 2024, the Seoul High Court ordered Chey to pay approximately 1.38 trillion won (US$913 million) to Roh, recognizing a purported slush fund of 30 billion won allegedly funneled by Roh's father to Chey's father. The Supreme Court overturned this ruling in October, stating that even if the fund had been funneled, it could not be considered in the asset division because it appeared to be illegal.
  • Valuation Date Contention: Another point of dispute is the exact valuation date for Chey's stake in SK Inc. The shares were valued at 160,000 won per share when oral arguments initially closed in April 2024, but have since surged past 600,000 won (and to over 800,000 won per one report), making the valuation date a significant factor.
  • Case Background: Chey announced his divorce plan in 2015, admitting to having an extramarital lover and a child with her. He filed for a divorce settlement two years later. Chey and Roh married in 1988 and have three children.

Perspectives

Chey Tae-won's Position: Chey's legal team maintains that his SK Inc. stocks were acquired through inheritance or gifts and should be considered separate property. They argue the stocks should not be part of the marital asset division. In his only public statement during the proceedings, Chey expressed hope for a swift resolution.

Roh Soh-yeong's Position: Roh's legal team contends that the SK Inc. stocks fall under marital property, citing her contributions to the family, including child-rearing and household management. She has not made public comments during the recent court appearances, according to Yonhap.

Judicial Perspective: The Seoul High Court has set a verdict date of July 24. The December 2024 Supreme Court ruling narrowed the scope of what could be considered in the division, specifically excluding the alleged slush fund. The court's upcoming decision will address the remaining disputes, including the stock inclusion and valuation date.