A historic legal fight over an AI tech fortune nears a final court decision
South Korean billionaire Chey Tae-won faces a record $1 billion divorce payout to his ex-wife Roh Soh-yeong. The dispute centres on whether his $5 billion SK Hynix fortune should be valued at its current AI-driven peak or at older, much lower market prices.
On July 24, 2026, South Korea braces for the climax of its biggest divorce case.
SK Group chairman Chey Tae-won could lose nearly $1 billion. His former wife demands half of his vast wealth.
The public confession
The drama began in 2015 with a shocking public letter. Chey revealed his love for another woman. He also admitted they had a child together.
He declared his marriage was completely broken. He told a local newspaper he wanted a permanent split.
”clean end.” Chey wrote.
He even quoted famous author Leo Tolstoy. The billionaire used a classic line to frame his issues.
”Happy families are all alike; every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way.” Chey stated.
A fight over AI wealth
Roh Soh-yeong is the daughter of late President Roh Tae-woo. She previously won about $1.5 million in emotional damages. The court agreed Chey completely ruined their trust.
Now, she wants a massive share of his business empire. She asked the court to use current prices for his shares.
SK Hynix supplies memory chips for Nvidia AI systems. The company saw its stock jump tenfold since early 2025. This massive growth doubled his net worth to $5 billion.
An appeals court previously gave Roh 35 percent of his assets. The Supreme Court demanded a new hearing to check the math.
The final legal test
Judges must now solve a complex financial puzzle. They will decide the timeline for valuing his net worth. The AI boom changed everything for the SK business empire.
The ruling will shape the future of a tech giant. South Koreans remain glued to this mix of hidden money.
