Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Real Reality]

Adultery law: a necessary evil?
Less than a couple of centuries ago, it was natural for Korean men to have more than one wife and women to accept polygamy since they had to depend on their husbands.

According to National Police Agency statistics, more than 40 percent of adultery charges were initiated by husbands against their wives last year, showing that the law no longer protected solely women.

While more men sue their wives, the circumstances remain harder for women because the law stipulates that the suit can only proceed when filed together with divorce. Thus, housewives who are financially dependent on their husbands have a hard time bringing a suit while husbands can sue wives and file for divorce much more easily.

"The adultery law was established based on the concept that women were subordinate to men. If the situation has changed, and the law does not protect women anymore, it is only right for it to be abolished," said Yoo.

Professor Choi Byung-moon of Sangji University agreed with Yoo, saying that Korea was retrogressing from the international understanding that draws a line between morals and law by no longer punishing people for their immoral deeds.

"Korea and China are among the few nations that still have the adultery law," said Choi. "I say it is time for Korea to repeal the law and come to an understanding that moral matters should always be left to individuals."

Despite the international and domestic moves toward repeal, strong assertions remain that the law is needed to protect women, with actual cases providing proof.

On Web sites for divorce consultations, many women seek advice on adultery, each expressing frustration and looking for a legal solution.

"My husband promised me he would end his affair, but I found out recently that he had been keeping up his relationship with that woman for the past three years, and even turned all his property to her possession," said a 43-year-old housewife on the Web site "Ihon Clinic," set up by lawyers specializing in divorce suits.

"He now openly admits his relationship with her and asks me to divorce him. If it had not been for the adultery law, I would have had to divorce him and walk away with nothing. All the effort I put into him and the children, and this is what I get in return," she added.

Lawyer Choi Soon-young says that, in reality, the adultery law is still a necessary evil for society.

"See, many of those who want the law abolished, are young and unmarried people who do not understand what the reality is for older and married women," she said. "For those women it was natural not to have a career and devote themselves to their husbands, kids and saving money.
By Shin Hae-in, The Korea Herald (March 6, 2005)
http://www.koreaherald.co.kr/SITE/data/html_dir/2005/03/07/200503070007.asp

[Gwangjuboy]

"See, many of those who want the law abolished, are young and unmarried people who do not understand what the reality is for older and married women," she said. "For those women it was natural not to have a career and devote themselves to their husbands, kids and saving money.

That's a ridiculous argument. The law is as much of a necessity in Korea as it is in the Western world. If a husband cheats on his wife, then the wife should have equal access to legal remedies. It really is that simple. The notion that a woman is compelled to file for divorce when suing for adultery, but the man is exempt from doing so, is outragious.

[PolyChronic Time Girl]

I always wondered, can the person whom the cheater is having an affair with be charged with also? I warn some of my foreign guy friends who are screwing around with married Korean women that they can go to prison.

[tzechuk]

Pre-nup is the only way to go. I got one.

[Guri Guy]

Welcome to Korea. It's a man's world over here.

[Real Reality]

Guri Guy wrote,
"Welcome to Korea. It's a man's world over here."

Schoolgirls to Have One Day Off a Month
Female students will soon be able to take one day off every month during their monthly period, according to the Ministry of Education and Human Resources Development.
by Chung Ah-young, Korea Times (January 13, 2005)
http://times.hankooki.com/lpage/200501/kt2005011315281753460.htm

The Online poll also revealed that the average groom spent about 99 million won, almost three times as much as the 34 million won spent by their brides. The high spending by males was attributed to their responsibility for providing housing.
http://times.hankooki.com/lpage/nation/200311/kt2003112717325711950.htm

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Ministry of Gender Equality
Guaranteeing the rights of housewives and supporting their social activities
http://www.moge.go.kr/eng/ch_8_2.jsp
Building a Gender-Equal Education Structure
Providing selected female scientists with financial assistance amounting to $20,000 per annum for maximum of 3 years from the year 2000 as part of a support project to expand the advancement of women in science and technology area
Supporting a promising female scientist who has each year earned her ph.D. financial assistance of a yearly $40,000 for a maximum of 3 years, on the condition that she finds work
http://www.moge.go.kr/eng/ch_4_2.jsp

���� means a woman's [female] voice; womanhood.
������ Ministry of Womanhood