SK divorce case triggers probe into Roh family funds
AM730 · 1 SOURCESabout 2 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
South Korean prosecutors on August 21 carried out searches tied to the family of late former president Roh Tae-woo over a secret 30 billion won fund that became a major issue in the divorce litigation between SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won and Roh So-young, Roh’s daughter. The searches covered the home of Roh’s widow Kim Ok-sook, materials linked to the Dong-A Cultural Foundation and the “Ordinary People’s Era Roh Tae-woo Center,” and the residence of a former secretary accused of providing borrowed-name bank accounts. Prosecutors said the case involves suspected violations of the law regulating concealment of criminal proceeds and tax evasion, marking the first compulsory search action since a complaint was filed by civic groups in 2024. The dispute has also drawn attention because South Korea’s Supreme Court said that even if Roh had provided about 30 billion won to the late SK chairman Chey Jong-hyun, the money appeared to be bribes received during Roh’s presidency and therefore could not be legally protected as a contribution in divorce asset division.
Key Points
- Prosecutors searched Kim Ok-sook’s residence on August 21 and seized related records from foundations linked to the Roh family.
- The probe targets suspected concealment of criminal proceeds and tax evasion involving Roh Tae-woo’s family and associated entities.
- Investigators also searched a former secretary’s home over allegations that borrowed-name accounts were provided to the Roh family.
- The 30 billion won fund surfaced in the Chey Tae-won–Roh So-young divorce case through a 1991 “Sunkyung 30 billion” memo and a promissory note.
- A lower appellate court had found the money flowed into SK Group and ordered Chey to pay Roh 1.3808 trillion won in property division.
Why It Matters
For Hong Kong readers following major Asian conglomerates, the case links corporate control, family wealth and political legacy in one of South Korea’s most prominent business families. It also shows how evidence raised in a private divorce dispute can trigger criminal and tax scrutiny with potential reputational consequences for cross-border business figures, including Roh Jae-heon, now South Korea’s ambassador to China.