This is the "Free" Half, Apparently

Lee Myunk-bak, President of South Korea

Now, as most of my beloved friends will know, I'm not very regularly prone to bouts of moral outrage (yes, that was a joke); but this one really takes the biscuit. While we're all condemning North Korea (boo) and it's oppressive leader, Kim Jong-Il (hiss) for developing nuclear technology (shame) and being a "Communist Dictatorship" (vomit in disgust), let's not forget that its neighbour, the as-considered-by-the-CIA-World-Factbook South Korea, a "fully functioning modern democracy" still seems to have a law condemning "adultery"; and it is strictly enforced, specifially against women.

Aside from the infantile-sounding name of the CIA's document (I can hear the adverts now: "You too can find out if your country is considered friend or foe for just $5bn. That's right: only $5bn!"), and the fact that this law has recently been enacted in a rather high-profile story, one wonders why 1) this law still exists; 2) people haven't made much of a fuss about it; and 3) why, despite the previous two factors, the case has been reported in the international news.

I will be honest, I did find the story mildly amusing; but only mildly, and only then out of sheer incredulity. Who the hell does the South Korean Government think it is? Yes, extra-marital affairs are generally frowned upon, and with argubly good reason; and, yes, I know nothing of Korean society - be it that of North or South - to be able to make an informed comment. However, history has shown that, in terms of the private business of a few people who don't seek to cause any harm to the public good, they need not suffer at the hands of the law, as well as the social stigma atached to such a situation. After all, divorce courts and the tabloid press tend to do a very good job of dragging out all sorts of dirty laundry to air in front of a judge, where famous people are concerned. Must such people be subjected to criminal penalties, as well?

The "it's their culture" argument doesn't really work, either, I'm afraid. According to the BBC, "[t]he law has been challenged four times, but the country's top judges have always ruled that adultery is damaging to social order, and the offence should therefore remain a crime."However, "the judges' support for the law has gradually declined. The law's repeal would require backing of six of the court's nine judges - in the last case, five judges backed its repeal." Which means, if I'm not mistaken, that even among the legal elite, this is considered a backward, unfair, repressive and ultimately unethical legislative device, used often for nothing more than to enact revenge, or secure more for oneself in the divorce settlement. Oh, and did I mention that the victims of this law are more often women than men, despite the fact that "nearly 68% of South Korean men and 12% of women confess to having sex outside marriage"? Hmm...

Now, I'm no feminist, but this all marks up to a very high total on my sexist-meter. Given that North Korea's social regime is pretty strict, I'd say South Korea, in the area of women's rights, has a rather stricter policy. That is: if you're a married woman, who decides you no longer want to be with your husband, for whatever reason, or just to rejuvenate your appetite, since he isn't doing it for you, anymore, you're off to prison, if caught. But let's get some perspective on the matter. South Korea is a free country.

How often is the CIA World Factbook revised...?

Kim Jong-Il, Dictator of North Korea. Spot the Difference...