[123RF]
[123RF]

A couple has divorced after a wife complained of unfair treatment at her husband's family home during the Chuseok holiday — and her husband abandoned her at a highway rest stop when she raised the issue.

Attorney Jo In-seop shared the divorce consultation case Tuesday on the "Villain Prevention Committee" segment of YTN Radio's "News FM Seulgirowoon Radio Lifestyle."

According to the wife, identified only as A, she discovered during her first holiday meal with her in-laws after marriage that silver cutlery had been set out for every family member — except her, whose place had only wooden chopsticks. She assumed it was a simple mistake, but the same thing happened at the next holiday gathering.

After meals, the family would watch television in the living room while she was left to wash the dishes alone.

Ahead of the third holiday, she confronted her husband, asking, "What am I in this household?" He replied, "Everyone lives like this — stop making a fuss."

On the drive home from one visit, the couple stopped at a highway rest stop. While she was in the restroom, her husband left without her.

A few days later, the husband demanded she sign a written pledge stating she would visit his family home every holiday without fail, and that if she refused, she would consent to divorce and waive any claim to asset division.

She signed the pledge in hopes of preserving the marriage but later stopped visiting his family. The husband ultimately filed for divorce.

Attorney Jo said any pre-emptive waiver of the right to claim asset division during a marriage is legally void. "That holds true even if the pledge was notarized," he said.

In the actual trial, the wife filed a counterclaim seeking asset division. Because the marriage had been short, the amount she received was not large, but the court did award her a share.

Jo also said that under civil law, being subjected to severely unfair treatment by a spouse or the spouse's lineal ascendants can constitute grounds for divorce.

"The wooden chopsticks and dishwashing alone might not be sufficient," he said, "but the husband's act of leaving his wife behind at the rest stop could qualify as seriously unfair treatment."


yeonjoo7@heraldcorp.com