Attorney Yang Na-rae Discusses Rising Trend of Newlywed Divorces
On April 2, during the MBC program Radio Star (라디오스타), attorney Yang Na-rae shared insights on the increasing occurrences of newlywed divorces. Responding to host Kim Gu-ra's mention of a recent report from the National Statistical Office indicating a decline in divorce rates, Yang expressed her personal observation that the rates seem to be rising. She noted that the statistics only account for couples who have officially registered their marriage, while many couples today choose to live together without formal registration and often separate after a short period.
Yang explained that divorces occurring within a short timeframe often stem from negative emotions between partners, leading one party to seek alimony by attributing blame to the other. She highlighted a common sentiment among lawyers that pursuing a 30 million won alimony case can be more challenging than dividing assets worth 3 billion won.
The attorney pointed out that while there has been a historical prevalence of late-life divorces, a notable increase in newlywed divorces—defined as those occurring within four years of marriage—has emerged. She remarked that divorce is no longer viewed as a stigma, with some individuals advocating for quicker separations.
Yang also mentioned a shift in parental attitudes, with some parents suggesting that they would support their children after three years of marriage, and even being open to delaying marriage registration. Additionally, she noted that assets acquired before marriage can still be divided based on each partner's contributions.
In discussing divorce litigation, Yang explained that attorneys typically receive both a retainer fee and a success fee upon winning a case.
