Divorce

Divorce (이혼/離婚) is the termination of a marital union, the canceling of the legal duties and responsibilities of marriage and the dissolving of the bonds of matrimony between a married couple. The requirements and procedure are provided for by the Civil Act.

Divorce can be a stressful experience affecting finances, living arrangements, household jobs, schedules and more. If the family includes children, they may be deeply affected.

Key words
dirvorce, by agreement, by litigation, mediation, cooling-off period (숙려기간/熟慮期間)

Types of Divorce
In Korea, divorce may be effected by an agreement between husband and wife, and a judicial divorce under the Civil Act.

Collaborative Divorce
When it is difficult and unhappy for a couple to maintain a marital relationship, husband and wife may agree to get divorced. In a collaborative divorce, the parties negotiate an agreed resolution with the assistance of attorneys and financial advisors.

The divorce by agreement is effective upon reporting pursuant to the Act on the Registration, etc. of Family Relationship (가족관계의 등록 등에 관한 법률) subject to the confirmation of the Family Court.

Judicial Divorce
A couple may disolve marriage regardless of the intention of the other party by litigation. It is made possible only if any cause prescribed in the Civil Act exists. It is also allowed when it is hardly possible to continue the marriage owing to the disruption of marital relations other than the causes stated in the Civil Act.

Though the applicant has no fault, the application for divorce is limited to six months or two years at the longest. The same apply to the other cases that the marital relation connot be maintained.

Mediated Divorce
Mediation is first required for the application for divorce with the Family Court, if applicable. So both parties should go to the mediation panel with a cooling-off period (숙려기간/熟慮期間). But once such mediation failed, both parties may apply for a divorce judgment within two weeks from the date of delivery of mediation documents or in writing even before the service of process.

Divorce mediation is an alternative to traditional divorce litigation. In a divorce mediation session, a mediator facilitates the discussion between the two parties by assisting with communication and providing information and suggestions to help resolve differences. At the end of the mediation process, the separating parties have typically developed a tailored divorce agreement that can be submitted to the court.

Report of Divorce
Divorce by agreement is effective upon reporting pursuant to the Act Act on the Registration, etc. of Family Relationship subject to the confirmation of the Family Court.

When the mediation is completed or the judgment on divorce is confirmed, the divorce takes effect even though there in no report of divorce. However, the applicant shall report the divorce with the certificate of judgment confirmation withing ten days from the mediation or judgment confirmation.

Effects of Divorce
이혼을 하면 혼인을 함으로써 부부 사이에 생긴 신분상·재산상의 모든 권리 의무가 소멸된다. 즉, 부부 사이의 정조의무, 동거·부양·협조의 의무 그리고 부부재산 관계가 소멸한다. 그리고 배우자의 혈족과의 인척관계도 소멸한다.

부모가 이혼한 후 그들의 자녀를 공동으로 양육할 수는 없으므로 구법에서는 양육에 관한 협의가 없는 때에는 부에게 양육권이 귀속되었으나 개정된 친족법에서는 당사자간의 협의에 의하되 협의가 되지 않거나 불능인 때는 당사자의 청구로 가정법원이 자(子)의 연령, 부모의 재산 정도 기타 사정을 참작하여 양육에 필요한 사항을 정하고 언제든지 그 사항을 변경 또는 다른 적당한 처분을 할 수 있도록 하고, 자를 직접 양육하지 아니하는 부모 중 일방에 대하여는 면접교섭권(面接交涉權)을 신설하였다(제837조의 2).

또한 협의상 이혼에 대해서는 재산분할청구권(財産分割請求權)을 신설하여 과거의 여성의 불이익을 제거하였으며, 재판상 이혼은 부부 일방의 책임 있는 사유에 의한 것이므로 잘못 없는 배우자에게 그 타방에 대한 손해배상청구권(제806조)을 인정함은 물론 신설된 재산분할청구권도 인정하고 있다(제843조).

부모가 이혼하더라도 자녀의 신분에는 아무런 영향을 미치지 않으므로 그대로 적출자인 것이며(844조 2항), 어머니와 자녀와의 친족관계도 소멸되지 않아 부모로서의 권리의무를 계속해서 지닌다. 따라서 친권·혼인동의권(808조)·부양의무(974조)·상속권(1000조) 등이 그대로 인정된다.