Chairman Chey Tae-won (63) of SK Group and Noh So-young (62), director of the Art Center Nabi, who is currently in a divorce lawsuit with Chairman Chey, have filed a claim for 3 billion KRW in damages against Kim Hee-young, chairperson of the T&C Foundation and Chairman Chey's cohabitant.
According to the legal community on the 27th, Noh's side submitted a lawsuit for damages against Chairperson Kim to the Seoul Family Court on the same day.
Noh's legal representatives stated, "Chairperson Kim caused the breakdown of the marriage, and Noh suffered severe mental distress," and claimed, "Married Chairperson Kim actively approached Chairman Chey under the pretext of counseling and other means."
They added, "This occurred after Noh had undergone cancer surgery and while her son was also battling illness, a time when the roles of husband and father were desperately needed at home, yet Chairperson Kim continued an illicit affair with Chairman Chey and even gave birth to an illegitimate child," and pointed out, "Even while Noh refused divorce and tried to protect the family, Chairperson Kim accompanied Chairman Chey at official events, acting as if she were his spouse."
Furthermore, they said, "Such behavior mocks and ousts Noh, who refused to file for divorce and pleaded for the preservation of the family," and added, "Chairperson Kim established a public interest foundation, receiving over 10 billion KRW in support from Chairman Chey and enjoying the position of chairperson. She also gained enormous economic benefits, such as purchasing villas at low prices from SK Group affiliates and reselling them at high prices, earning several hundred million KRW in capital gains."
Regarding the claim for 3 billion KRW, they urged the court for a fair judgment, stating, "Even if an affair occurs, if only a very small portion of the benefits from the illicit relationship is paid as damages, a negative perception that such behavior is acceptable may spread in society. Therefore, the amount should be appropriately calculated."
Previously, Chairman Chey and Noh married in September 1988, the first year of the late President Roh Tae-woo's inauguration, and had three children, but their marriage ended in divorce.
Chairman Chey publicly acknowledged his relationship with Chairperson Kim in 2015 and announced his intention to divorce Noh. The formal legal divorce process began in earnest when Chairman Chey filed for divorce mediation in July 2017, but after mediation failed, a formal divorce lawsuit started in February 2018.
Noh, who had refused the divorce, filed a counterclaim against Chairman Chey in December 2019, demanding 300 million KRW in damages and requesting the division of half of Chairman Chey's 12,975,472 SK shares, amounting to 6,487,736 shares, as part of the property division.
The first trial of the divorce lawsuit ruled that "Chairman Chey must pay Noh 100 million KRW in damages and 66.5 billion KRW in property division." However, the SK shares held by Chairman Chey, which Noh requested, were not included in the property division. Both parties appealed the case, and the appellate trial is pending at the Seoul High Court.
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