Court annuls fake marriage

By Lee Kyung-min

The court annulled a marriage Monday, which started off as a cost-saving measure then turned into a job-saving one.

Since 2006, a woman started cohabitating with her long-time friend to save housing expenses.

It was right after their college graduation.

She thought that it was no big deal since the man’s sister was going to live together with them, she said in a court statement.

Then, four years ago, the man landed a job at a big corporation.

The company asked him about his marital status.

He said he was single, but the company saw it otherwise.

The man’s argument weakened when he was found to have been living with a woman for a prolonged period.

The company said that a penalty was in order if he didn’t clarify the situation, according to the court statement.

Terrified, he asked the woman to register themselves as a married couple.

Out of sympathy, she said yes.

Her effort was in vain, as he quit his job in less than a year.

She said that she regretted having been rash in making such a serious decision.

She asked for an annulment.

The first court initially rejected the case, but she appealed and the appellate court overturned the lower court’s decision.

”The marriage was a hoax with the only intention being him not getting fired ,” said the ruling.