Photo: Republic of Korea · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Born in South Korea · Nationality South Korean — Conglomerates / SK Group

Chey Tae-won

Documented profile covering 9 controversies, including “Massive accounting fraud at SK Global/SK Networks” and “Secret SK Securities–J.P. Morgan agreement imposing losses of over 100 billion won on affiliates”.

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Profile No. 0353 · Updated on 12 October 2026

9Documented controversies

13Sources

0Formal charge · all time

2Convictions

§ Legal statuses reflect the documented sources as of the date shown; they replace neither court decisions nor the presumption of innocence. Counts are not a rating. Methodology

I. Documented controversies

2015–2026

Acknowledged extramarital relationship, child outside marriage and divorce involving almost one trillion won in assets

Civil / administrative proceedings

In 2015, Chey publicly acknowledged an extramarital relationship and a child born from it, and in 2017 initiated divorce proceedings against Roh Soh-yeong. The case became one of South Korea's largest matrimonial property disputes: after a 1.38-trillion-won award, the Supreme Court referred the calculation back, and in July 2026 the High Court set a division of 944 billion won. Chey appealed again to the Supreme Court on 14 August 2026.

State of the evidence: Admitted by the person
Attribution: Personally implicated

Sources · 2

[1]
ReutersSK group Chairman Chey appeals divorce settlement rulingMediaHigh reliability
[2]
YonhapSK Group chairman again appeals divorce suit to Supreme CourtMediaHigh reliability

Last verified: 21 August 2026

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2017–2026

SK Siltron: allegation of appropriation of corporate opportunity, FTC fine subsequently overturned

Investigation

Chey personally acquired 29.4% of SK Siltron in 2017 while SK Inc. was taking control of the company. In 2021, the FTC found that SK had provided him with a corporate opportunity and imposed an 800-million-won fine on Chey and the same amount on SK Inc. Both challenged the decision; the Seoul High Court overturned the sanction in 2024. A separate criminal complaint filed by a civic organisation also kept the matter under prosecutorial scrutiny.

State of the evidence: Documented
Attribution: Personally implicated

Sources · 2

[1]
Edaily최태원 SK 회장 '실트론 사건' 과징금 16억원MediaHigh reliability
[2]
Hankook Ilbo최태원 '재산분할' 돈줄로 꼽히는 SK실트론…5년째 檢 계류 중MediaHigh reliability

Last verified: 21 August 2026

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2024–2026

Complaints against YouTubers over allegedly false and malicious rumours about him and his partner

Investigation

Chey brought criminal and civil actions against more than ten YouTube creators whom he accused of spreading false and malicious information about him and his partner, Kim Hee-young. He also used US proceedings against Google to identify certain channel operators. In 2026, Kim Hee-young obtained damages in at least one defamation case involving false claims.

State of the evidence: Documented

Sources · 2

[1]
YonhapSK chairman takes legal action against YouTubers for spreading rumors about partnerMediaHigh reliability
[2]
Korea JoongAng DailyCourt rules in favor of partner of SK Group Chairman Chey in defamation lawsuitMediaHigh reliability

Last verified: 21 August 2026

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Case · 2 documented stages

2015 presidential pardon after approximately 31 months in detention

Conviction

2015-08

2015 presidential pardon after approximately 31 months in detention

Conviction

After serving approximately 31 months of his four-year sentence, Chey received a special pardon from President Park Geun-hye in August 2015. The decision renewed debate over using pardons to allow convicted executives to resume leadership of their groups quickly.

State of the evidence: Documented
Attribution: Personally implicated

Sources · 2

[1]
ReutersSouth Korea pardons SK Group leader amid growing discontent over chaebolMediaHigh reliability
[2]
YonhapPardoned SK chairman vows investment, job creationMediaHigh reliability

Last verified: 21 August 2026

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2008–2014

Embezzlement of affiliate funds for personal derivatives investments

Conviction

Chey was sentenced in 2013 to four years' imprisonment for embezzling approximately 49.7 billion won from two group companies through an investment fund, with the money subsequently used in personal futures and options transactions. The Supreme Court upheld the sentence in 2014.

State of the evidence: Established by a court
Attribution: Personally implicated

Sources · 2

[1]
YonhapSK chairman gets four years for embezzlementMediaHigh reliability
[2]
ReutersS.Korean court confirms 4-year jail term for SK chairmanMediaHigh reliability

Last verified: 21 August 2026

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2008-08

2008 presidential pardon following SK Global conviction

Protagonist not prosecuted

Protagonist not prosecuted — these proceedings are not counted in their formal charges or convictions.

Chey received a presidential pardon and rehabilitation in August 2008 alongside Chung Mong-koo, Kim Seung-youn and other business executives. The pardon lifted remaining legal restrictions linked to his earlier conviction and fuelled recurring debate over leniency towards chaebol executives.

State of the evidence: Documented
Attribution: Personally implicated
Role of the person profiled: Protagonist not prosecuted

Sources · 1

[1]
Yonhap정몽구 최태원 김승연 등 34만명 광복절 특사MediaHigh reliability

Last verified: 21 August 2026

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Case · 3 documented stages

Massive accounting fraud at SK Global/SK Networks

Conviction

2003

Massive accounting fraud at SK Global/SK Networks

Conviction

Chey Tae-won was convicted in the SK Global scandal, which involved massive accounting falsification intended to conceal the company's weak financial position. The courts found, in particular, inflated earnings and accounts amounting to more than one trillion won. Chey was sentenced to three years' imprisonment.

State of the evidence: Established by a court
Attribution: Personally implicated

Sources · 2

[1]
YonhapSK 회장 최태원 징역 3년MediaHigh reliability
[2]
Korea JoongAng DailySK Corp leader gets jail for fraudMediaHigh reliability

Last verified: 21 August 2026

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1999–2003

Secret SK Securities–J.P. Morgan agreement imposing losses of over 100 billion won on affiliates

Conviction

The 2003 trial also established Chey's responsibility for a secret agreement with J.P. Morgan to cover losses linked to SK Securities. The arrangement ultimately imposed approximately 111 billion won in losses on affiliated companies, which the court classified as criminal conduct.

State of the evidence: Established by a court
Attribution: Personally implicated

Sources · 1

[1]
Yonhap최태원 회장 징역 3년 선고MediaHigh reliability

Last verified: 21 August 2026

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2002–2003

Irregular Walkerhill/SK share swap to consolidate family control

Conviction

Chey was also convicted over a share swap involving Walkerhill Hotel and SK, which prosecutors and the court considered had been structured on irregular terms to strengthen the Chey family's control over the group. The judgments reported a personal benefit amounting to tens of billions of won.

State of the evidence: Established by a court
Attribution: Personally implicated

Sources · 2

[1]
Yonhap최태원 회장 징역 3년 선고MediaHigh reliability
[2]
Korea JoongAng DailySK Corp leader gets jail for fraudMediaHigh reliability

Last verified: 21 August 2026

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II. Constellation of documented links

Linked profile (portrait or initials) — click to open it
Line width: number of documented references
Hover over or tap a line: controversies and sources

Two profiles are linked when a documented controversy of one names the other. The link points to that controversy and its sources; it does not indicate a personal relationship.

List of documented links (4)

Roh Tae-woo2 documented references
- New suspicions over 30 billion won in slush funds: concealment investigation and searches on 21 August 2026 Source ↗
- Acknowledged extramarital relationship, child outside marriage and divorce involving almost one trillion won in assets Source ↗
Ahn Cheol-soo1 documented reference
- Clemency petition for Chey Tae-won revealed after his strong statements against economic crimes Source ↗
Chung Mong-koo1 documented reference
- 2008 presidential pardon following SK Global conviction Source ↗
Park Geun-hye1 documented reference
- 2015 presidential pardon after approximately 31 months in detention Source ↗

III. Has something changed?

A new court decision, a missing source, a mistake? Tell us what should be updated: every request is read by the editorial team.