Divorce & Adultery

Divorce Compensation Lawyer

Divorce Compensation Lawyer | What you can claim, and how to prove it

Summary

Divorce compensation (이혼위자료) is money paid to compensate for the emotional distress caused by the spouse who is legally at fault for ending the marriage. It is legally separate from property division — property division splits jointly accumulated assets, while compensation punishes and compensates for wrongdoing (민법 제843조, 제806조 준용). Common grounds include adultery, domestic violence, desertion, and severe insults to the spouse's family. Whether you can succeed depends heavily on what evidence you can gather now, before memories fade and messages get deleted.

Divorce & Family Law Applicable law: Civil Act (민법) Claimant's perspective

Divorce Compensation | What counts as fault for a compensation claim?

Korean courts recognize compensation claims when one spouse's fault caused the marriage to break down irretrievably. The Civil Act does not use a single closed list for compensation itself, but courts apply the same categories of fault used for judicial divorce (민법 제840조), plus general tort principles (민법 제750조, 제843조).

Item 1

Adultery / infidelity
An extramarital sexual relationship (부정행위) is the most common ground. It covers more than intercourse — courts have found fault in emotionally and physically intimate relationships that fall short of a sexual act, depending on the facts. Message logs, hotel records, and card statements are typically the strongest evidence.

Item 2

Domestic violence or abuse
Physical violence, threats, or psychological abuse toward the claimant or their family can support a claim. Medical records, photos of injuries, police reports, and witness statements from family or neighbors carry significant weight here.

Item 3

Malicious desertion
Unilaterally abandoning the household without justification (악의의 유기), such as leaving home and cutting off financial support without reason, can constitute fault. The key issue is usually proving there was no legitimate cause for leaving.

Item 4

Severe mistreatment by in-laws
Extreme insults or abuse from the spouse's direct family members toward the claimant, or vice versa, can be grounds under the same framework used for judicial divorce (민법 제840조 제3호, 제4호).

Item 5

Other conduct destroying marital trust
Gambling addiction, alcohol dependence causing serious harm, chronic neglect, or other conduct that objectively destroys the basis of mutual trust in the marriage can be argued as fault, though these tend to require more contextual proof than adultery or violence cases.

What if both spouses share some fault?

Courts weigh the relative degree of fault when both sides contributed to the breakdown. A partial reduction in the compensation amount — rather than a complete denial of the claim — is common where the other side can show some fault on the claimant's part as well, so it helps to be realistic about your own conduct during the marriage before filing.

Divorce Compensation | How much can you actually claim, and what proves it?

There is no fixed statutory table for compensation amounts in Korea — courts set the figure by weighing several factors case by case. Understanding these factors helps you focus your evidence gathering where it actually matters.

Factors courts weigh

Courts consider the length of the marriage, the severity and duration of the fault, each party's financial circumstances, whether there are minor children, and the degree of mental suffering shown. Two cases with similar facts can still result in different amounts because these factors are weighed holistically rather than by formula.

Evidence that actually moves the needle

Text messages, call logs, photos, medical records, and witness statements are far more persuasive than a claimant's own narrative alone. If you suspect infidelity or abuse, preserving originals (not just screenshots) and noting dates/locations contemporaneously strengthens your position significantly.

Compensation is separate from property division

Even if you receive a large share in property division, that does not reduce your compensation claim, because the two serve different legal functions (분할 vs. 위자료) — one divides jointly built assets, the other compensates for the tort of destroying the marriage. Courts assess them independently, though the overall settlement is often negotiated together in practice.

Divorce Compensation | Can you also sue the third party involved?

When adultery is involved, the claimant is often not limited to suing their own spouse — the third party who participated in the affair can also be held liable.

Joint liability of the affair partner

The spouse's affair partner can be jointly liable for damages as a co-tortfeasor if they knew, or should have known, that the person was married (민법 제750조). This claim can be filed together with the divorce case or separately as a standalone tort claim.

What if the marriage was already broken down?

If the marital relationship had already substantially and irreversibly broken down before the affair began, courts have found the third party not liable, on the reasoning that there was no longer an intact marital relationship to interfere with. This makes the timeline of when the marriage actually deteriorated a frequently contested issue.

Evidence needs against a third party

Because the third party will often argue they did not know about the marriage or that the marriage was already over, evidence such as how they met, whether they had contact with the family, and messages referencing the marital status becomes especially important.

Divorce Compensation | Deadlines you cannot afford to miss

Compensation claims are subject to a strict statute of limitations that is shorter than many claimants expect, and it can start running before the divorce is even finalized.

Three years from finalization of the divorce

If you are claiming compensation as part of or after your divorce, the claim generally must be filed within three years of the divorce becoming final, following the tort limitation period referenced through 민법 제766조 in conjunction with 제843조.

Three years from when you learned of the fault

For claims against a third party (such as an affair partner), the three-year period runs from the date you became aware of both the damage and the identity of the person responsible, not necessarily from the date of divorce (민법 제766조 제1항). Filing early once you have solid evidence protects you from timing disputes later.

Divorce Compensation | From evidence gathering to final judgment

Initial consultation & evidence review
We review what evidence you already have (messages, photos, financial records) and identify gaps you can still fill before filing, since evidence quality often determines the outcome more than the narrative.

Choosing the claim strategy
We determine whether compensation should be pursued together with the divorce case, added to an ongoing case, or filed separately against a third party, based on your timeline and what stage the marriage/relationship is at.

Filing and mediation (조정)
Most family court divorce cases are first referred to mediation. We prepare submissions that present your evidence and fault claims clearly, aiming for a fair settlement without unnecessary delay if possible.

Litigation if mediation fails
If mediation does not resolve the dispute, the case proceeds to a formal trial where both compensation amount and fault findings are contested more rigorously, often involving witness examination.

Judgment, appeal, and enforcement
Once judgment is issued, either party may appeal within the statutory period. If compensation is awarded and not paid voluntarily, we assist with compulsory enforcement against the other party's assets.

Divorce Compensation | How legal fees are structured for compensation claims

Retainer fee (착수금)
Typically set based on the complexity of the case — whether fault is contested, whether a third party is involved, and whether the case is filed alone or alongside a broader divorce/property division claim.

Success fee (성공보수)
Often calculated as a percentage of the compensation amount actually awarded or recovered, rather than the amount originally claimed in the complaint.

Case-related expenses (실비)
Covers court filing fees, service of process costs, and expenses for evidence-related procedures such as requesting call detail records or expert appraisal, billed separately from the retainer.

Third-party claim add-on
If you are also pursuing a separate tort claim against an affair partner, this is generally treated as an additional matter with its own fee structure, since it involves a different defendant and evidentiary burden.

※ Costs vary depending on case complexity and specific circumstances; exact fees will be provided during consultation. No specific outcome is guaranteed.

Divorce Compensation | Self-Check Before You File

1️⃣ Do you have grounds for a fault-based claim?

Do you have any direct evidence of an affair, such as messages, photos, or financial records?
Do you have documentation of violence or abuse, such as medical records or police reports?
Can you show a pattern of desertion or refusal to support the household?
Has severe mistreatment come from your spouse's family members specifically?

2️⃣ Is your evidence strong enough to hold up?

Do you have originals of messages/photos rather than just screenshots?
Do you have dates, times, and locations noted for key incidents?
Are there witnesses (family, friends, neighbors) willing to provide statements?
Have you preserved evidence before it could be deleted or lost?

3️⃣ Are you within the deadline?

Has more than 3 years passed since your divorce became final?
If targeting a third party, has more than 3 years passed since you learned who they were?
Is your divorce case still ongoing, or already finalized?

4️⃣ Are you considering a claim against a third party?

Do you have evidence the third party knew your spouse was married?
Can you establish the timeline of when the affair started relative to your marriage's condition?
Was your marriage still substantially functioning when the affair began?

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Can I claim compensation even if we divorce by mutual agreement?

A. Yes. Even in an uncontested divorce (협의이혼), you can still separately negotiate or later file for compensation if one spouse was at fault, though it is often more efficient to resolve it as part of the divorce settlement itself. If it isn't addressed at the time of the agreed divorce, you generally still have three years from finalization to file (민법 제766조, 제843조).

Q. How is compensation different from property division?

A. Property division splits assets accumulated jointly during the marriage regardless of fault, while compensation specifically addresses the emotional harm caused by the at-fault spouse's wrongdoing. They are assessed under different legal frameworks and one does not offset the other automatically, though settlements often bundle both amounts together in practice.

Q. Can I sue my spouse's affair partner directly?

A. Generally yes, if the affair partner knew or should have known your spouse was married, they can be held jointly liable as a co-tortfeasor (민법 제750조). This can be pursued together with your divorce case or as a separate lawsuit.

Q. What if my spouse claims our marriage was already over before the affair?

A. This is a common defense from third parties and sometimes from the spouse as well. If the court finds the marriage had already substantially and irreversibly broken down before the affair, a claim against the third party may fail, so the timeline of the marriage's deterioration becomes a key factual issue.

Q. Do I need a divorce case pending to claim compensation?

A. No. You can file a compensation claim as a standalone tort action even without pursuing a divorce, particularly against a third party. If you are also divorcing, though, it is usually more efficient to raise both claims within the same proceeding.

Q. How long do I have to file?

A. For claims against your spouse tied to the divorce, the period generally runs three years from when the divorce becomes final. For claims against a third party, it generally runs three years from when you learned both of the harm and the identity of the responsible person (민법 제766조 제1항).

Q. What kind of evidence should I start collecting right now?

A. Message logs, call records, photos, financial statements showing suspicious spending, and any medical or police records related to abuse are the most commonly used evidence. Save original files where possible rather than relying only on screenshots, since authenticity can be challenged later.

Q. Will the amount I receive depend on my spouse's income?

A. Financial circumstances of both parties are one factor courts consider, but they are weighed alongside the severity of the fault, length of the marriage, and mental suffering shown, meaning income alone does not determine the outcome.

Q. Can I still claim compensation if I also had some fault in the marriage?

A. It is possible, but courts may reduce the amount awarded in proportion to the claimant's own contribution to the breakdown of the marriage. Being realistic about this during the initial case evaluation helps set appropriate expectations.

Q. Is it worth consulting a divorce compensation lawyer before I confront my spouse?

A. Often yes, because confronting a spouse prematurely can lead to evidence being deleted or hidden, and can affect how a court views the sincerity of the claim later. Speaking with a divorce compensation lawyer first about evidence preservation strategy can materially affect the strength of your case.

Official References

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