Roh Soh-yeong, currently embroiled in South Korea’s most high-profile divorce case with SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won, faced a significant legal setback as the Seoul Central District Court ruled against her in a lawsuit filed by SK Innovation, a subsidiary of SK Group. The lawsuit centered around Art Center Nabi, an art museum where Roh serves as a director, located within the SK Group’s prestigious building.
The court’s decision, handed down on Friday, was clear-cut: Art Center Nabi must vacate its 560.3 square meter space within the SK Seorin Building in central Seoul. In addition to eviction, the court ordered the museum to pay damages totaling 1.0456 billion won ($753,501) to SK Innovation. The legal dispute arose from SK Innovation’s contention that the museum’s lease had expired in 2019, thereby hindering necessary renovations to the building due to the occupied space.
According to the court’s ruling, SK Innovation had legally terminated the lease agreement with Art Center Nabi. Consequently, the museum was deemed obligated to surrender the premises and compensate SK Innovation for the period following the contract termination. The court dismissed Art Center Nabi’s claims of unilateral termination, abuse of rights, or breach of trust by SK Innovation.
Reacting to the verdict, Lee Sang-won, representing Roh Soh-yeong’s legal team, expressed disappointment, characterizing the lawsuit as excessive. He emphasized that Art Center Nabi had relocated to its current space 25 years ago at the request of Chairman Chey Tae-won, which added complexity to their position. Lee indicated that they were evaluating whether to appeal the decision, but acknowledged the challenges, including the current heatwave affecting their options and planning.
Beyond the legal battle over the art museum, Roh Soh-yeong’s personal life has been thrust into the public eye due to her ongoing divorce proceedings with Chey Tae-won. The divorce case, initiated in 2017, has been fraught with tensions, exacerbated by Chey’s public admission in 2015 of fathering a child out of wedlock. Recently, the Seoul High Court delivered a landmark ruling favoring Roh, compelling Chey to pay 1.38 trillion won, equivalent to 35% of his assets, in property division. The court’s decision underscored Roh’s substantial contributions to Chey’s accumulation of wealth throughout their marriage.
Chey Tae-won has subsequently filed an appeal with the Supreme Court, disputing the evaluation of asset division by the lower court. The divorce proceedings have captivated public interest in South Korea, reflecting broader societal concerns about family dynamics, wealth distribution, and corporate governance within the country’s elite business circles.
The ongoing legal battles and their financial ramifications continue to make headlines, underscoring the complex intersection of personal relationships, legal disputes, and corporate interests in South Korean society.