Marriage Cheaters No Longer Allowed Divorce Rights In South Korea

Here is another interesting ruling by South Korea’s Supreme Court that people who cheat on their spouse are not allowed to file for a no-fault divorce:

The Supreme Court on Tuesday ruled that the spouse directly responsible for ruining his or her marital relationship is ineligible to file for divorce, in accordance with no-fault regulations.

The highest court’s decision upheld the ruling of a lower court, which dismissed a divorce suit brought by a 68-year-old plaintiff against his 66-year-old wife.

The names of the two were not disclosed, however, according to court files, the plaintiff wed his wife in 1976 and the couple had three children together. The man then began an extra-marital affair in 1996 with another woman, with whom he had another child.

In 2000, the plaintiff moved in with his mistress, though still continued to pay living and education expenses to his original children.

He officially filed for divorce in 2011, after he was diagnosed with kidney disease and his oldest children refused to donate.

Among the 13-member panel of judges, six argued that divorce suits should be accepted in cases in which the marital relationship was undeniably ruined, while the remaining seven said it was still too premature to begin accepting divorce suits by unfaithful spouses given the parameters of current laws.

However, an unfaithful spouse, the top court added, still has the option to divorce by consent.  [Joong Ang Ilbo]

You can read the rest at the link.