Man Found Guilty of Raping Philippine Wife

A Korean man yesterday was found guilty of raping his Philippine wife by the Busan District Court.

The 42-year-old man was convicted of threatening the 24-year-old Filipina with weapons and forcing her to have sex with him. He was given a suspended sentence of 30 months in prison.

A few years ago, a Korean court found a man guilty of indecent assault for raping his wife, but this is the first conviction for spousal rape in Korea.

“The defendant’s act should be punished since he ignored his wife’s sexual rights and forced her to have sex against her will, instead of treating her with affection considering she felt lonely in a foreign country,” the ruling said.

“A wife has the right to protection from her husband since the relevant law is designed to protect the right to sexual autonomy, a kind of personal right, not the chastity of married women. No evidence says married women are not included in the category of women under criminal law.”

The court also said, “The defendant will be put on probation since he regrets his crime and has no criminal record. His wife has also implored the judge for mercy.”

The man met his wife through a marriage broker and married her in August 2006. He allegedly threatened his wife with weapons when she refused sex because of menstruation and forced her to have sex.

The defendant, however, said he will file an appeal, saying, “I cannot accept part of the judgment.”

toto@donga.com