This law applied to people who committed adultery with married people, and this law was abolished this February. This law was named the adultery law. Lately, adultery was found unconstitutional, so that law has been abolished. The Constitutional Court recently voted on it, and adultery was found unconstitutional because it infringed on people’s rights of sexual assertiveness and freedom.
  Even by international courts, this law has been abolished. Most countries, except North Korea, Taiwan, Philippines, Mongolia, Vietnam, Mexico, 10 states of America and Muslim countries(except Saudi Arabia and Turkey), abolished this law. This law didn’t exist in most of Western Europe; other countries had abolished it sequentially. Latin America, which has a strong Catholic culture, abolished it in the 1990s. It was later than other countries.
  In Korea, people who heard about the decision on the unconstitutionality of adultery are divided. The consenting parties said, “I welcome the nations’decision and limitation of punishments,” and “That was excessive punishment for husbands and wives. They just broke the trust with each other.” They thought the nation had excessive confrontation concerning adultery. However, opposing parties said that it would create sexual degeneracy and bring about sexually promiscuity. Also, they said protecting the family is the nation’s obligation. What do foreigners think about this issue?

 By Kim Soo-min
sm36@cbnu.ac.kr

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Does your nation have a law about adultery? If not, does your nation have a replacement of the law?

 

George Ax(Greece): My country has that law. Most Greeks believe in Greek Orthodoxy. Greek Orthodox emphasizes family affection, so that is why our country has that law in my opinion.

 

Zhang-hui(China): It does not exist in China, but bigamy exists. Korea doesn’t have that? I discovered it for the first time. That’s amazing to me.

 

What do foreigners think about adultery?

 

George Ax(Greece): I thought about it before because I’m interested in law. Anyway, I’m not negative about the abolishment of the adultery law. I think people can assert their rights about sexual assertiveness.

 

Zhang-hui(China): I’m not negative about the abolishment of the adultery law, but bigamy should be needed in Korea. I think appropriate control is needed because the law changed suddenly. It might confuse people.

 

At this time, it has been abolished, and now Ashley Madison is operating. What do you think about it when you hear about this site?

 

George Ax(Greece): ‘Lovers derive their pleasure from their misfortunes’. This is a famous proverb in Greece. I always think the most important person in my life is beside me. Then, I don’t know how they think like that!

 

Zhang-hui(China): I know that site! That exists in China. I think wives or husbands trust their partner and marry. Betraying their trust is not right. They always trust and love their partner. I hope people don’t forget it.