A lengthy legal battle over the divorce of Samsung heiress and Hotel Shilla president Lee Boo-jin and her husband Im Woo-jae finally ended Monday as the Supreme Court largely upheld the decisions of lower courts.
The two filed for divorce more than five years ago but substantial demands from Im for alimony dragged out proceedings.
Lee gained custody of her son, while Im will get W14.1 billion of the couple's assets (US$1=W1,168).
Im had sought a staggering W1.2 trillion on the assumption that Lee was worth W2.5 trillion, but a lower court granted him only W8.6 billion, which the couple were deemed to have accrued during their marriage.
Most of Lee's equity holdings in Samsung affiliates were not included, but a higher court ruled that Lee's assets had increased in value since the lower court's ruling. It also found that Im should be entitled to only 20 percent of Lee's assets but increased his visitation rights of his son from once a month to twice.
The couple's marriage in 1999 drew a great deal of publicity since Im was a humble bodyguard for Lee's father Lee Kun-hee, though he later became an adviser at Samsung Electro-Mechanics.
