The Divorce Story of the Silver-Spoon In-Laws and the Wooden-Chopstick Daughter-in-Law

A story has emerged of a family that ultimately ended in divorce after every holiday, the in-laws used silver spoons while only the daughter-in-law was given wooden chopsticks. On the 22nd, lawyer Cho In-seop introduced this divorce consultation case on the 'Villain Prevention Committee' segment of YTN Radio's 'News FM Wise Radio Life.'

Before the third holiday, when Ms. A confronted her husband, asking, "What am I in this family?" he replied, "Everyone lives like this, so don't make a fuss." On the way home, while Ms. A went to the restroom at a rest stop, her husband drove off alone, leaving her behind.

A few days later, the husband demanded his wife sign a written pledge that she would visit his family every holiday, and that if she broke this promise, she would agree to a divorce and waive her claim to property division. Ms. A signed the pledge to keep the marriage going, but afterward stopped visiting his family, and her husband filed for divorce.

Legally, however, the pledge carried no weight. Lawyer Cho explained, "A provision waiving in advance the right to claim property division that has not yet arisen during the marriage is invalid," adding, "Even if the pledge had been notarized, the outcome would be the same." In the actual trial, Ms. A filed a countersuit for property division, and although the marriage was short and the amount was not large, her claim was recognized.

The in-laws' treatment of her could also be subject to legal judgment. Under civil law, severe unfair treatment by a spouse or their direct ascendants constitutes grounds for divorce. Lawyer Cho noted, "The wooden chopsticks or dishwashing alone may not suffice, but the husband's act of leaving his wife at the rest stop could qualify as unfair treatment."