SK Shares Soar from 160,000 to 600,000 Won...What Will Happen to the Choi Taewon–Noh Soyoung Property Division?

Valuation Could Differ by Billions Depending on Reference Date for Share Price
Key Issue: Appellate Trial or Retrial as the Cut-off Point

The retrial mediation hearing for the property division between Choi Tae-won, Chairman of SK Group, and Noh Soyoung, Director of Art Center Nabi, will be held on the 15th. The sharp rise in SK’s stock price, which has soared from 160,000 won to 600,000 won per share, is expected to become a major point of contention.

Yonhap News

According to legal circles on the 14th, the Family Division 1 of the Seoul High Court, presided over by Chief Judge Lee Sang-joo, will hold the second mediation hearing for the property division between Chairman Choi and Director Noh on the 15th.

At the first mediation hearing held about a month ago, only Director Noh was present, but for the second hearing, both Chairman Choi and Director Noh are expected to attend. At that time, the court reportedly scheduled the next hearing for a date when both could be present. If they meet in court, it will be their first encounter in approximately two years and two months since the final arguments in the appellate trial in April 2024.

Choi Tae-won and Noh Soyoung Divorce Property Division

At the second hearing, the two parties are expected to begin substantive discussions on the scale, method, and criteria for property division. The first mediation session concluded in just an hour after only confirming each party's position.

In particular, a key issue will be whether SK shares, whose price has recently surged, will be recognized as subject to division. If so, whether the recent sharp increase in stock price will affect the valuation will also be closely watched. Depending on whether the reference date for the division is set as April 16, 2024—the date when arguments ended in the appellate trial—or as the closing date of arguments in the ongoing retrial, the value could differ by more than twofold.

As of the end of arguments in the appellate trial, the SK share price was 160,000 won, giving Chairman Choi’s holdings a value of approximately 2.07 trillion won. With SK’s stock price having recently soared to around 600,000 won, the value has also increased significantly.

Chairman Choi’s side maintains that the stake in question, having been acquired through inheritance and gifts, constitutes separate property and thus cannot be subject to division. However, Director Noh’s side argues that, as she supported the management through child-rearing and household work, the assets should be considered jointly owned.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.