SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won was ordered by a South Korean court to pay approximately $644 million to his ex-wife, Roh So-yeong, on the same day he met with US tech leaders in San Francisco to discuss AI investments.

On the same day a South Korean court ordered SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won to pay 944 billion won (approximately $644 million) to his ex-wife Roh So-yeong in a landmark divorce settlement, the executive was in the Bay Area meeting with US tech leaders to promote artificial intelligence investments.

The Seoul High Court’s ruling on Friday, July 24, 2026, mandated the substantial cash payment, noting Chey's shareholdings significantly increased during the marriage through his management activities. The court set the asset valuation date at April 16, 2024, deliberately excluding the later surge in SK Hynix's stock values driven by the AI chip boom. This appellate decision adjusted a prior award, and while Chey's legal team stated they are reviewing the written verdict before deciding on a Supreme Court appeal, the payment obligation in cash is firm as of the ruling, preserving his 17.9% stake in SK Inc.

Coincidentally, on that same Friday, Chey was in Woodside, California, dining with Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, ahead of the San Francisco AI Summit. His involvement was part of a delegation led by South Korean President Lee Jae-myung, aimed at strengthening Korea-U.S. AI partnerships and attracting venture capital. At the summit, Chey joined other Korean business leaders like Samsung Chairman Lee Jae-yong and Hyundai Chair Euisun Chung in sessions with prominent US tech figures, including OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei, where investment Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) on AI collaboration were reportedly signed.

The confluence of these events highlights the complex interplay between personal wealth and corporate strategic movements in the global tech economy. While the immediate financial impact on Chey Tae-won is clear, details on how he will fund the significant cash payout have not been disclosed. Similarly, the specific, direct corporate implications of the divorce settlement for SK Group's broader investment strategy, particularly its burgeoning AI ventures in the US, remain unarticulated. The timing of an appeal from Chey's legal team also remains unconfirmed, leaving the finality of the court's order open to future developments.