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With the Supreme Court’s remand decision in his long-running divorce case with Noh So-young, SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won has cleared a major management risk, paving the way for him to focus on global economic diplomacy and internal corporate affairs.

The top court’s Oct. 16 ruling effectively nullified a lower court order for Chey to pay 1.4 trillion won in asset division, ending concerns that such a payout could weaken his control over SK Group. The decision also dispelled lingering worries that the conglomerate’s leadership would be distracted by personal legal issues.

Now free from legal uncertainty, Chey — who also serves as chairman of the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry — is intensifying preparations for a packed schedule that includes the upcoming APEC CEO Summit in Gyeongju and high-level meetings in the United States. He is expected to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump alongside Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong, Hyundai Motor Group Chairman Chung Eui-sun and LG Group Chairman Koo Kwang-mo.

According to SK officials, the group will also hold its annual CEO seminar from Nov. 6 to 8, where next year’s strategic direction will be set. Personnel reshuffles could take place beforehand, immediately after the APEC summit.

Chey’s legal team welcomed the Supreme Court’s decision, saying it corrected a misconception that SK’s growth during the Roh Tae-woo administration was linked to illicit political funding. “The court made it clear that SK’s growth under the sixth republic was not due to slush funds or unlawful support, and that such claims cannot justify property division,” the lawyers said. They emphasized that no evidence had ever shown SK benefited from political ties, adding that the group had, in fact, come under pressure from its then in-law administration.

Inside SK headquarters, the ruling brought a sense of relief. “We hope this decision helps restore pride and integrity among our employees, as it dispels the notion that SK’s growth relied on political money,” said an SK official.

Shortly after the ruling, Chey appeared at Gimpo Airport around 6 p.m. before departing for the United States to attend a global business forum hosted by SoftBank founder Masayoshi Son at the Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida. “There are many economic challenges ahead,” Chey told reporters. “I will do my best to contribute to the Korean economy.”

Later this month, from Oct. 28 to 31, Chey will chair the APEC CEO Summit in Gyeongju, where he is slated to deliver a keynote speech at SK’s “Future Tech Forum.” He has personally led outreach to global corporate leaders to ensure high-level participation in the event.

Despite the favorable ruling, market reaction was mixed. SK Inc. shares fell 5.62% to close at 218,500 won on Thursday amid lingering concerns over the protracted nature of the divorce proceedings.