A Seoul court has ordered Kwon Hyuk-bin, a prominent South Korean video game tycoon, to pay over $1.5 billion in a divorce settlement, the largest in the country’s history. The settlement exceeds the previous record of $666 million awarded to SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won.
Kwon, founder of Smilegate, must transfer a 35% stake in the company, valued at about $1.9 billion, in addition to $48.8 million in cash. His former wife, surnamed Lee, filed for divorce in November 2022, claiming she contributed significantly to the company’s establishment and management. The court found that the marriage had irreparably broken down, considering the couple’s ongoing conflicts and the chances of reconciliation.
