But a closely-watched Supreme Court case challenged this law. It involved a man who, despite being married, had been living with his lover for the past 15 years, Regional Posts reported. Attorneys for the plaintiff, whose "unlawful" partner gave birth to a child in 1998, claimed that the marriage was permanently and irreparably broken, and that the man should be able to initiate a divorce regardless of his wife`s wishes.
Just like the February decision to decriminalize infidelity, the new case drew a substantial public response. Many complained that changes in the country`s divorce law would encourage adultery and could be particularly harmful for women, as the "divorcee" label carries a particularly strong stigma for Korean women.
In the end, the 13-judge Supreme Court ruled seven to six against any change in the law, reiterating that those responsible for a marital breakdown cannot file for divorce.
However, if both sides agree on a settlement, a broken marriage can be legally ended, often with significant financial compensation to the wronged party.
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