English Lessons

Rising Divorce Rate

Korea’s divorce rate is rising at an astronomical rate. In the early 1980’s it stood at around 5%. By the mid-1990’s it was around 25%, and by 2001 the rate had risen to around 30%. Worldwide, Korea now ranks 3rd in divorce rates behind the USA and the UK. What’s going on?

We mostly hear about how members of the younger generation just don’t understand what marriage is supposed to be, that they’re only looking for a quick way to satisfy their sexual desires, or that today’s newlyweds give up too easily when problems start to occur.

But while these things may be true, a rising divorce rate may also be an indication of something much bigger. Some people blame it on a breakdown of morality, but it could also be one result of the improved status of women. Interestingly, 64% of divorce suits filed in Korea in 2000 were filed by women.

In Korea any of the following conditions can qualify as a good reason to file for a divorce:

* proven adultery
* unreasonable behavior including violence
* excessive drinking
* making excessive sexual demands
* associating intimately with another man or woman, even if no sex involved
* neglect
* keeping the other part unreasonably short of money
* living apart for 3 years or more
* mistreatment of parents (either side)

Until recently, Koreans couldn’t understand how there could be so many divorces in the US while there were so few in Korea. Because divorces here were so rare, a lot of Koreans were convinced that their own social system, based on the Confucian idea that females should serve males, was superior to American system.

But it’s now clear that the main reason for the low divorce rate was the low status of women, who had no choice but to stay with their abusive or philandering husbands. Until recently, divorced women were looked upon in Korean society as “used goods”. Besides that, almost no jobs were available for divorced women.

All that has changed. Laws relating to grounds for divorce have loosened up quite a bit in recent years, mostly to the benefit of wives. This is a direct result of the improving status of women, who can now get out of uncomfortable relationships much more easily than in the past.

Most couples getting divorces in Korea are in their 30’s, and most of them have children. Children are usually the ones who suffer the most when their mothers and fathers split up.

Questions for discussion

1. What do you think are the main reasons why young people get married in Korea?
2. Why do you think that more young married couples nowadays are getting divorces than in the past?
3. Do you think there are any good reasons for getting a divorce? If so, what are they?
4. The article suggests that one reason for the formerly very low divorce rate in Korea was because Korean society discriminated against women, and women couldn’t get jobs after a divorce. Do you agree?
5. If you were in a bad marriage, would you rather stay in the marriage or get a divorce and become single again?
6. Which marriage partner do you think cause the most problems which lead to divorce in Korea- the husbands or the wives?
7. In divorce cases where children are involved and money is not a problem, which parent is better able to take care of the children- the mother or the father?
8. In your opinion, what is the best age for getting married—for men? For women?
9. Compare the advantages and disadvantages of remaining single and getting married for men and women.

|