A family court has ruled that a spouse who carries out religious activities which cause marital difficulties in the family is the one solely responsible for the divorce.
Devoted Christian's Namgung and Kim, who prefer to be addressed by their last names, wed in 2000. Namgung promised that after their marriage she would not partake in any religious activities.
However, after the birth of their son the following year, Namgung started attending religious services. Kim allowed her to carry religious beliefs if Namgung promised never to involve their son and to cause inconveniences at home.
A few days later, Namgung took her son to a religious meeting, abandoning ancestral rituals because she said it was against her religion.
In regards to their divorce, the Seoul Family Court ruled Wednesday that Namgung is responsible for aggravating the family relationship by strongly insisting on her religious beliefs. The court therefore approved the divorce and granted parental rights to Kim.