Ban on same-clan marriage ends

The government decided Wednesday to abolish the decades-long ban on marriage between members of the same surname and the same family origin.

The decision was made in a Cabinet meeting presided over by President Kim Dae-Jung at the Sejongno Central Government Complex.

The Cabinet session passed an amendment to the Civil Law to that effect and decided to forward it to the ongoing regular National Assembly session.

The revision bill provides a ban on marriage among close relatives, affecting third cousins from the paternal line and second cousins from the maternal side.