Wife Who Cowed Mistress Acquitted

The appellate court acquitted a wife who called a woman who was having an affair with her husband and told her she would humiliate her by disclosing what she did.

The Seoul District Court said on Sunday that it reversed the original verdict by the lower court on May 25 and acquitted Ms. A (42) of charges on threatening a woman working at her husband’s company.

Ms. A received a phone call in September 2003 from Miss B (26), who was in an extramarital relationship with her husband for nearly three years. Ms. A used abusive language toward B, saying that she would bury B alive.

Ms. A was accused of threatening Miss B and found guilty in the first trial as what she said was acknowledged to be intimidating to Miss B’s safety. She appealed to a higher court.

The judge said “I admit that she threatened Miss B and caused fear, but it is justifiable as she had to save her family from disintegration, and she intended to give a warning to Miss B, who was younger than she is.”

Ji-Seong Jeon verso@donga.com