Choi Tae-won's Cohabitant Noh So-young's '3 Billion Won Alimony' Lawsuit First Trial Verdict Today

The first trial result of the lawsuit filed by No So-young, director of Art Center Nabi, against Kim Hee-young, director of the T&C Foundation and cohabitant of Choi Tae-won, chairman of SK Group, demanding damages worth 3 billion won will be announced on the 22nd.

Noh So-young, Director of Art Center Nabi. [Photo by Yonhap News]

The Family Court of Seoul, Family Division 4 (Chief Judge Lee Kwang-woo) will hold the verdict session for the damages claim lawsuit filed by Director No against Director Kim from 1:55 PM on the same day. In March last year, Director No filed a lawsuit demanding 3 billion won in damages from Director Kim, stating that she suffered severe mental distress due to the breakdown of her marital life with Chairman Choi.

The key issue in this lawsuit is whether the statute of limitations for the claim for damages has expired. Article 766, Paragraph 1 of the Civil Act (Statute of Limitations for Claims for Damages) stipulates that "the claim for damages arising from a tort shall be extinguished by the statute of limitations if the victim or legal representative does not exercise the claim within three years from the date they become aware of the damage and the tortfeasor." Since Director No claimed mental damages caused by an illegal act against Director Kim, who is the adulterer of her legal spouse Chairman Choi, the claim for damages will expire if this period passes.

Director Kim’s side argues that the lawsuit was filed after three years from the date Director No became aware of the illegal act, so the statute of limitations has been completed and legal responsibility cannot be imposed. On the other hand, Director No’s side claims that the illegal acts between the two are ongoing, so the statute of limitations cannot be applied.

Previously, Chairman Choi announced his intention to divorce Director No in 2015 after revealing the existence of an extramarital child. In July 2017, he filed for divorce mediation against Director No. Director No initially refused the divorce but changed her stance two years later and filed a countersuit against Chairman Choi demanding divorce, damages, and property division.

In the first trial in December 2022, the court essentially sided with Chairman Choi, stating that it was difficult to see that Director No substantially contributed to the formation, maintenance, and value increase of SK shares. The court ordered Chairman Choi to pay 66.5 billion won in property division and 100 million won as damages to Director No.

However, the appellate court overturned the original ruling and ordered Chairman Choi to pay 1.3808 trillion won in property division and 2 billion won in damages to Director No. The court judged that Director No’s "political influence" and "support and household labor" contributed to SK’s management activities and the formation and increase in value of SK shares. Chairman Choi’s side appealed this decision, and the Supreme Court is currently reviewing the case.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.