SK Telecom Surges 5.3% on July 24 as Court Orders Choi Tae-won to Pay 944 Billion Won in Cash

According to Seoul High Court on July 24, the court ordered SK Group Chairman Choi Tae-won to pay 944 billion won in cash as property division settlement in his divorce case. The judgment requires cash payment rather than company shares to avoid disrupting the group's control structure. Market analysts expect the cash demand will likely trigger dividend expansion at SK Telecom and other profitable subsidiaries as a funding mechanism.

Stock markets reacted immediately after the ruling. SK Telecom shares jumped 5.33% to 104,800 won, while SK Inc. and SK Hynix declined 3.82% and 8.34% respectively, reflecting concerns about potential financing pressures on the group.