Choi Tae-won, 66, chairman of SK Group, and Noh So-young, 65, director of Art Center Nabi, will return to court next month to continue their divorce asset division dispute. As the retrial process intensifies, both sides are expected to reignite their battle over the division of assets valued at over 1 trillion won.
According to Yonhap News on May 14, the Family Division of the Seoul High Court, led by Judge Lee Sang-joo, has scheduled the second mediation session for the asset division case between Choi and Noh for June 15 at 2 p.m.
During the first mediation session held the previous day, the court indicated it would set a new date that accommodates both parties. Unlike the first session, where only Noh attended, there is a possibility that Choi will appear in person for the second mediation.
If both parties do attend, it will mark their first court appearance together in approximately 14 months since the final arguments of the appeals trial in April of last year.
A key issue in this retrial is whether the SK shares should be included in the asset division. Choi argues that the SK Corporation shares are his separate property, inherited and gifted, and thus not subject to division.
Conversely, Noh contends that her long-term contributions to household management and child-rearing supported Choi's business activities, and therefore, those shares should be considered marital property.
In a previous ruling, the first trial ordered Choi to pay Noh 100 million won in alimony and 66.5 billion won in asset division. However, the second trial significantly increased this to 2 billion won in alimony and 1.38 trillion won in asset division.
The second trial court determined that 30 billion won in slush funds from Noh's father, former President Roh Tae-woo, had flowed to Choi's late father, Choi Jong-hyun, contributing to the foundation of SK's growth.
However, in October of last year, the Supreme Court ruled that this money, deemed illegal, could not be recognized as a contribution to Noh's asset formation and sent the case back to the Seoul High Court. The decision to award 2 billion won in alimony was upheld.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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