Chairman Chey Tae-won's Cohabitant Kim Hee-young: "Sorry to Noh So-young and the Children... Will Not Appeal"

Kim Hee-young, director of the T&C Foundation and cohabitant of SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won, has expressed her intention not to appeal the court ruling ordering her to pay 2 billion KRW in alimony to No So-young, director of the Art Center Nabi.

In front of the Seoul Family Court, Attorney Bae In-gu, the defense lawyer of Director Kim Hee-young, is making a statement. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

On the 22nd, immediately after the verdict in the damages claim lawsuit, Director Kim stated in a press release, “I once again apologize to Director No So-young,” and added, “I will humbly accept the court’s judgment and will not appeal.”

She continued, “I sincerely apologize especially to the children who must have been heartbroken watching the adults over the years,” and added, “I will do my best to promptly fulfill the obligations set by the court.”

Earlier that day, the Family Division 4 of the Seoul Family Court (Presiding Judge Lee Kwang-woo) ruled partially in favor of the plaintiff on the 22nd in the damages claim lawsuit filed by Director No against Kim Hee-young, cohabitant of Chairman Chey, ordering “the defendant to jointly pay 2 billion KRW to the plaintiff along with Chairman Chey.”

The court stated, “Based on the submitted evidence, the defendant and Chairman Chey’s misconduct, birth of an extramarital child, running away from home, and public actions have been recognized to have fundamentally damaged the trust relationship between Director No and Chairman Chey and led to the breakdown of their marriage.”

Furthermore, the court explained the reason for the compensation amount, saying, “The previous divorce lawsuit appeal ruled that Chey Tae-won must pay 2 billion KRW in alimony to No So-young. Considering the circumstances, degree, marital situation, and progress of the misconduct by the defendant and Chey Tae-won, it is difficult to see the defendant’s responsibility as significantly lighter than Chey Tae-won’s.”

Director No had filed a lawsuit last March demanding 3 billion KRW in alimony from Director Kim, claiming that “the marriage with Chairman Chey was broken, causing severe mental distress.”