In ultra speedy Korea and in matters of the heart, couples can unite in matrimony and just as quickly see it all fall apart. 

Call it shadenfreude or entertainment, but that is part of the attraction of the KBS program Marriage Clinic: Love & War (부부클리닉 사랑과 전쟁).  It comes from the fact that viewers want to sort through the disastrous failures of others and pick up a few cautionary pointers perhaps on the road to their own marital bliss.

But as each dramatization reaches its sometimes painful, often comedic demise, viewers are a little surprised to see that most couples on the show are hardly ever redeemed by the court.  Can’t the judge and court officers see that these two were never meant for each other?  Haven’t these people seen the last 20 minutes of the re-enactment?  Unfortunately, the couples are inevitably asked to think about it, and this leaves most viewers wondering why the government would be so cruel.  (See clip below.)

Considering the institution of marriage nearly fell apart at the seams over the last 15 years, we can understand why the government has been so reluctant to allow divorce quickly–at least on TV.   In the decade between 1993 and 2003 divorce had jumped 250 percent (NY Times). 

Divorce in South Korea had gone from something uncommon to something alarmingly common in a rapid cultural shift against the family institution.   Combined with such progress as educated women in the workforce and a strong push by Western values, South Koreans were re-evaluating their marriages as quickly and as easily as a cellphone contract in fast-paced Korean life.

The government implemented new rules in June of last year in order to slow down the divorce process and to introduce some much needed consideration between aggrieved couples.   Specifically, the government targeted the ”hot-headed” couples who often wanted to call it quits after a nasty fight, or for personality conflicts that could be resolved with counseling, with mandatory deliberation periods.  The rules enforced a minimum one month delay so that grown adults might have a reasonable chance to repair their vows.

Recent indications have shown some positive results.   The latest statistics indicate that the government’s efforts have reduced the number of divorce petitions by 25% in comparison to the same period prior to the rules.  While other analysts say that this is due to the declining economy, most agree that making it more difficult to divorce has forced many couples to reconsider.  

[Reuters]

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