Korea court rules unfaithful spouses cannot file divorce lawsuits

September 15, 2015

SEOUL (Yonhap) — The nation’s top court ruled Tuesday that unfaithful spouses are not allowed to file divorce lawsuits, in accordance with the no-fault law.

Upholding a lower court’s ruling, the Supreme Court dismissed a divorce suit filed by a husband responsible for the breakup of his marriage, against his wife. The identities of the two have been withheld.

Seven of 13 sitting judges ruled that it is yet early to change the law, which would allow such cheating spouses to file divorce lawsuits.

The court noted that a spouse committing marital infidelity still can divorce his or her spouse through settlements.

According to data by the court, 77.7 percent of couples who divorced in the country in 2014 did so through settlements.