South Korea divorce cases linked to digital media

In late July 2026, a South Korean delivery driver filed for divorce, citing his wife's compulsive gaming habit, abandonment of the family home, and threats toward his parents. Police cleared the husband of wrongdoing, and legal experts said the wife's prolonged abandonment and abusive conduct qualified as “malicious abandonment,” giving the husband a strong claim for custody and alimony.

A few weeks later, in early August 2026, another South Korean woman sought divorce after discovering her husband’s secret meetings with a popular female livestreamer. The husband had been sending large monthly donations to the streamer and claimed the encounters were merely sponsor dinners. The wife, who owned most of the couple’s assets, pursued legal advice to secure evidence and claim damages for the marital breakdown.

Both cases illustrate a growing pattern in South Korea where digital‑media‑related behaviors—gaming addiction and online influencer relationships—are becoming central grounds for divorce proceedings, prompting legal scrutiny of how internet‑driven activities impact family stability.