These days, the increase in the divorce rate among aged people is a growing social concern. The number of divorce suits among the elderly people between 60 and 70 years old is increasing. In addition, over 90% of the elderly asking for divorce are women. For example, a seventy-six year old woman, Mrs. Kim, filed for divorce against her husband of eighty. Also, Mrs. Lee, a grandmother of 71, brought a suit for divorce against her husband of ninety. But the court dismissed the suits. Some people who heard about those cases said, "The old women must be in dreadful suffering; otherwise, they wouldn't divorce." But others said, "The old husbands are so pitiful. Those women should have more patience!" My opinion is the former.
        According to the newspaper reports, the two old women said, “I want to live as a human for the rest of my life.” For about fifty-two years, Mrs. Kim lived like a slave. Her husband disregarded her from newly-married life, and though he had a large income, he gave only a small amount of money to her. She was rarely allowed to live the home, and she couldn't even go to church. Now Mrs. Kim lives alone in a rented room, and she leads a needy existence. So she brought a suit for divorce, but she lost the suit. Also, Mrs. Lee lived with the doubt and mistreatment of her husband. Her husband drove her out penniless in 1994. She said, "Even though I'm very poor, I'm very happy now, because I have my mind at rest." She also lost her suit.
        Even though there were enough reasons for a divorce, the court rejected these divorce suits. Why? The courts still persist in standards far behind the times for people in their twilight years. Though admitting their painful married life, the court judged that the couples should continue to live together. It means the court is saying, "As you have endured so far, you should live for the future." So, it's a verdict that ignores elderly women's human rights. The women wanting old age divorce didn't make up their minds suddenly. Though they were annoyed by violent words and acts of their husbands, they just put off the divorce for fear, their children's future, and the eyes of society.
        Some people stick to time-honored tradition, so they are set against old age divorce. However it's almost impossible to sustain their marriages, so it's better for them to divorce. If they don't want to live together, forcing them to do so by law is a violation of human rights. This is not a personal issue, but a women's human rights issue. As a woman, I hope that other women who divorce, even older women liked Mrs. Kim and Mrs. Lee, will win their divorce suits.