Court Accepts Marriages of Convenience That Prosper
By Park Si-soo
Staff Reporter
Foreigners landing here under sham marriages with Koreans and those Koreans acting as their spouses for money are subject to punishment. But what happens if they end up falling in love and becoming a real couple?
An appellate court Friday found a "sham couple" not guilty, overturning a lower court's ruling.
According to the Seoul Eastern District Court, a 53-year-old Korean man, identified as Park, "married" a Chinese woman in 2004 in exchange for 4 million won. The purpose of the action was for the woman to secure work in South Korea.
But the fake relationship turned real when the woman continued to devote herself to her husband and his family members, including his children from a previous marriage.
Judge Choi Bok-gyu said, "The woman was praised by family members as being better than his former wife in taking care of the children."
Last month, the Suwon District Court and the Busan District Court also acquitted couples, judging their marriages to be real.
A senior judge said, "Courts tend to be generous to fake couples if it's confirmed they are engaged in real married life."