Is divorce easy in South Korea?
Lily Fisher
Updated on June 06, 2026
In addition, in Korea, a couple can divorce by mutual consent, without court proceedings. (Civil Act art. 834.) Therefore, an at-fault spouse can ask for a divorce outside the judicial process and can divorce as long as the other spouse agrees.
How long does a divorce take in South Korea?
It is highly recommended to hire a Korean divorce lawyer to help with preparation of the documents in Korea and to attend hearings. It can take 6 months up to a year for the court to issue a divorce decree.Do people in Korea get divorced?
The divorce rate in Korea has increased for two consecutive years since 2018, according to Statistics Korea. Although the divorce rate decreased by 4.3 percent year-on-year from January to October 2020, the number of couples that got divorced stands at 88,455.What is divorce like in Korea?
There is no provision for a no-fault divorce (except for a divorce by agreement between the parties). The Korean judicial divorce process is a fault-based contest between a wrongdoer and the wronged. The courts reason that a guiltless spouse should not be forced into an unwanted divorce.What is the most common reason for divorce in Korea?
According to Statistics Korea Friday, a total of 123,999 couples cut their ties last year and personality issues were given as the most popular cause for their split, accounting for 46.6 percent (57,801 cases).Hitchhiker's Guide To Divorce - Divorcing in Korea As Expats
Is it hard to divorce in Korea?
In addition, in Korea, a couple can divorce by mutual consent, without court proceedings. (Civil Act art. 834.) Therefore, an at-fault spouse can ask for a divorce outside the judicial process and can divorce as long as the other spouse agrees.Can I stay in Korea after divorce?
If your spouse's misconduct has caused the divorce, you may stay in Korea even after the divorce. However, you are required to submit documents to prove your spouse's misconduct.Is divorce high in South Korea?
The divorce rate in South Korea in 2021 was two divorces per 1,000 inhabitants, slightly lower than the value of 2.1 in the previous year. The divorce rate shows no major signs of decline, which reflects changes in the country's social norms.Is divorce still a taboo in Korea?
As Koreans are increasingly exposed to Western values, the rate of divorce has steadily risen among young couples. But for many older couples, getting divorced is still regarded as a taboo and Korea still has a relatively low divorce rate compared to other countries.Do Koreans prefer sons or daughters?
South Korea is the first country to shift from strong son preference to preferring daughters. This paper examines the factors associated with daughter preference, using data from the 2012 Korea General Social Survey, a nationally-representative survey of 1,379 people.Which country has the most divorces?
According to data from the United Nations and other sources, the country with the highest divorce rate in the world in 2020 was the Maldives, which recorded 2984 divorces against a population of 540,544, resulting in a divorce rate of 5.52 per 1000 people.Which country has lowest divorce rate?
Guatemala: 0.4 Divorces per 1,000 PeopleGuatemala has the lowest divorce rate out of all the countries globally, boasting only 0.3 divorces for every 1,000 population.