Seoul,South Korea – following a Supreme Court ruling against her,noh So-young,the ex-wife of SK Group Chairman Choi tae-won,has launched a social media campaign emphasizing her contributions to the family and household during their 37-year marriage,a move legal experts say is aimed at swaying public opinion as she faces a retrial regarding their divorce settlement. The renewed public battle comes after the Supreme Court overturned a previous high court decision that had significantly favored Noh, sending the case back for reconsideration.
The core of the dispute centers on the division of assets, especially after a significant 30 billion won contribution from Choi reportedly disappeared. With that tangible asset no longer available, Noh is now focusing on highlighting her “internal support” – decades of domestic labor, childcare, and care for her in-laws – as justification for a larger share of the marital property. She publicly emphasized this “37 years of internal support” on social media, a tactic observers believe is intended to influence the upcoming retrial.
The Supreme Court’s decision to remand the case focuses on re-evaluating the weight given to Noh’s non-financial contributions. While some legal professionals believe this strategy will have “minimal impact” on the trial, citing that such contributions were already argued in previous proceedings, others contend that the court cannot ignore the prevailing social sentiment regarding the value of women’s domestic labor.
Adding to the complexity, Noh’s social media activity has drawn scrutiny. Reports indicate she has been residing in a luxury Seoul villa with unpaid rent totaling approximately 2 billion won. Furthermore, a past letter she wrote to the blue House opposing Chairman Choi’s pardon has resurfaced during the trial.
Both chairman Choi and SK Group have declined to comment on Noh’s public statements. A legal official cautioned that the prolonged legal battle and associated public accusations have created “fatigue and antipathy,” suggesting any outcome could be a “Pyrrhic victory.” The court is now tasked with navigating these complex factors as it reconsiders the division of assets in this high-profile divorce case.
