South Korean Man Dies 90 Days After Marrying Vietnamese Wife; Suicide Note Alleges Domestic Abuse
SingTao · 2 SOURCESabout 2 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
A South Korean man in his 50s died of cardiac arrest approximately 90 days after marrying a Vietnamese woman roughly 30 years his junior, after allegedly experiencing severe domestic abuse documented in a suicide note. The man reportedly sold his taxi business to fund the international marriage, only to face escalating conflicts with his wife who refused to share a bedroom and eventually sought shelter at a domestic violence facility. A close friend of 20 years recently released the deceased's alleged suicide note through a YouTube channel, prompting public discussion about the handling of cross-border marriage disputes in South Korea.
Key Points
- South Korean man in his 50s sold his personal taxi business to finance an international marriage with a Vietnamese woman approximately 30 years younger
- The couple married according to Vietnamese traditions during the man's first visit to Vietnam, and the wife arrived in South Korea in March of the previous year
- Marital problems emerged immediately: the wife refused to share a bedroom, had numerous tattoos discovered on their wedding night, and tested positive for a sexually transmitted infection during the required medical examination for her visa
- The man sought help from his friend with visible facial bruises, claiming his wife attacked him while he slept, causing him to wake and retaliate
- The wife reported being a domestic violence victim to police and moved to a shelter, while the man allegedly wrote in his suicide note that police treated the incident as mutual combat and provided protection only to his wife
- The man claimed his wife used her knee to kick out three of his front teeth, and his emotional state deteriorated significantly after she left, leading to self-harm before his death
- The YouTube channel "투우부부" (Twoo Couple) released the story on August 30, with the information based primarily on the friend's account and not independently verified
Why It Matters
This case highlights growing concerns about the protection of South Korean nationals in international marriages, particularly when disputes arise with foreign spouses who may have different legal standing under immigration law . The incident has sparked public debate about whether authorities adequately assessed the backgrounds of marriage migrants and whether domestic violence victims are treated equitably regardless of gender or nationality.
This case highlights growing concerns about the protection of South Korean nationals in international marriages, particularly when disputes arise with foreign spouses who may have different legal standing under immigration law . The incident has sparked public debate about whether authorities adequately assessed the backgrounds of marriage migrants and whether domestic violence victims are treated equitably regardless of gender or nationality.