The top court found flaws in the lower courts' assessment of Roh's contribution to the conglomerate's growth, ruling that some 30 billion Korean won (US$21 million) in slush funds from Roh's father, the late former President Roh Tae-woo, which were funneled into SK Group, cannot be considered assets jointly accumulated by the couple.
The court clarified that such illegally raised funds constitute bribes and therefore cannot be subject to property division, requiring a recalculation of the couple's marital assets.
However, the court finalized its order for Chey to pay 2 billion won in alimony, dismissing his appeal.
Thursday's partial referral to the lower court came after the appellate court, which overturned the previous ruling in May last year, ordered Chey to pay Roh 1.38 trillion won (about US$970 million) in property division and 20 billion won in alimony, marking it as the most expensive divorce case in the country's history.
In the first trial in December 2022, Roh sought 50 percent of Chey's shares in SK Holdings, the conglomerate's parent company, but the court upheld Chey's argument that she had not contributed to his acquisition of the shares, which he inherited from his father.
SK Group appeared relieved by the court's decision to remand the case in favor of Chey, allowing him to avoid the worst-case scenario of having to sell off stakes in SK affiliates to pay astronomical sums to Roh, which could have jeopardized his control over the conglomerate.
"We respect the court's decision," Chey's legal representatives said in a press release, adding, "It is fortunate that the misunderstandings and factual errors in the appellate court's ruling have been rectified."
But looming uncertainties over the prolonged divorce settlement sent SK shares tumbling, down 5.62 percent from the previous trading session to close at 218,500 won.
In December 2015, Chey revealed that he had a child out of wedlock and later filed for divorce in July 2017 as the two failed to agree on the terms of separation.
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