5/16(수)-Domestic Violence

[sugarpowder]

5/16(수)-Domestic Violence

The announcement that celebrity couple Lee Min-young and Lee Chan had split up just 12 days after walking down the aisle came as a shock to most people even as we grow immune to stories of quick marriages and divorces.

When the young actress gave an interview from her hospital bed a few days later, recovering from a broken nose and a black eye, it caused a shudder among many who were appalled by the alleged violence administered by Lee Chan. Here was an actress in her prime, who barely two weeks before had radiated happiness with her groom by her side, claiming that she was beaten while dating as well as after the wedding.

What disgusted the public even further was Lee Chan's press statement that followed. In it he admitted to having "just slapped her seven to eight times." And like most shameless perpetrators of domestic violence, he offered justifications for beating his wife.

The fact is, there are no justifications for domestic violence. Nothing justifies abusing a spouse physically, verbally or psychologically. In Korean society, however, when one hears of a case of domestic violence, one assumes that the victim has done something to deserve it. The perpetrator feels that he is justified in his action because many people in our society still believe that spousal beating is to be condoned if the partner has done something that warrants it.

Domestic violence is about exerting control and power over the victim, and in a patriarchal society such as ours, we have been lenient about the use of force in the family. "A wife, like dried pollack, should be beaten every three days," goes an old Korean saying. While no one believes it any longer, it is a notion that is deeply ingrained in our psyche that doubtless justifies violence in the minds of the abusers.

Since domestic violence is viewed largely as a private affair that goes on within the confines of a family, outsiders are often reluctant to intervene. Hence, the victims are discouraged from talking about their problems as it merely brings shame on themselves without achieving any resolution.

A number of domestic violence cases involving high-profile celebrities in recent years has had the effect of bringing the issue into the public domain. A well-known comedienne filed for divorce after 18 years of marriage that was marked by violence. Another comedienne was beaten with a baseball bat before she sought divorce. A famous actress divorced her baseball player husband after repeated beatings.

These battered wives said they endured years of violence because they were in the public eye and were afraid that talking about it would invite close scrutiny and humiliation, and destroy their careers.

Domestic violence is not merely a problem between spouses, but a serious social issue. The vicious cycle of domestic violence often plays out for generations. Sometimes men who beat their wives also abuse their children.

Domestic violence also exacts a social cost in that children from abusive families have higher probability of committing crimes. A U.S. study found that children who grew up in violent homes had a six times higher probability of attempting suicide, a 24 percent higher chance of committing sexual assault, a 74 percent increased incidence of committing crimes against a person, and a 50 percent increased chance of alcohol or drug abuse.

Clearly, it is in society's interest to actively intervene in cases of domestic violence and work toward preventing it. A revision bill to the special law on domestic violence has been pending at the National Assembly since 2005. The bill would deal more strictly with domestic abuse cases. For example, more serious cases of domestic violence would be tried as criminal cases and repeat offenders would be placed under arrest. Knowing that their offences will result in heavy punishments may have a deterrent effect on the potential perpetrators.