SK Chairman Chey Tae-won’s confession

SK Chairman Chey Tae-won’s confession that he has a daughter out of wedlock and wishes to divorce his wife was a big scandal that swept South Korea on Tuesday. Some jokingly said that his confession was intended to cover up Monday’s’ controversial comfort women deal. The business circle says that Roh Soh-yeong, his wife and director of Art Center Nabi expressed her willingness to embrace her husband and the kid, but to no avail. Gossips after gossips are spreading over the expected amount of alimony and property division in case of their divorce lawsuit.

Regarding Chey’s confession, men are showing more generous reactions, sometimes even praising his courage to reveal his weak point. On the other hand, women, especially wives are strongly criticizing his irresponsible behavior and not giving any apology to his wife and children. SK Group’s shares dropped after the revelation due to concerns on the chairman’s divorce and the possible asset division lawsuit.

Roh, a sincere Christian, had said in an interview with a Christian media that “My husband was in prison, and my youngest son was diagnosed with diabetes. I was going through the bottom of my life.” Their second daughter is serving the navy. I felt compassion when Roh said, “My daughter chose to join the navy as a way to avoid and overcome the toughest times of her life.”

I came to think about the heavy burdens of life that does not spare even a chaebol leader or a daughter of ex-president. No one can deny that life is full of contradictions and chaos, and that this applies to every single person. Chey and Roh, their children, Chey’s new lover and her child all deserve the right to be happy. Each and every Koreans has a right to pursue happiness protected by the constitution, and individual choices should be respected to that end.

angelhuh@donga.com