A South Korean man filed for divorce against his wife, accusing her of 'desertion' after she refused to donate part of her liver to save his life, sparking a widespread debate on social media. The couple, both in their early thirties, had been married for three years and had two daughters. Last winter, the husband was diagnosed with primary biliary cholangitis, a rare liver disease, and doctors warned that without a liver transplant, he would not live more than a year. In a desperate attempt to save him, his parents sold their home, while his wife stayed by his side, caring for him with great devotion. Miraculously, tests showed she was a perfect match for a donor. When confronted, the wife finally admitted that what she called a 'phobia' was just an excuse. The real reason was her intense fear of the surgical risks and her anxiety about leaving their two young daughters orphans if something happened to her. The husband was enraged, seeing it as deception and abandonment at his time of need. He filed for divorce, accusing his wife of 'intentional neglect' and failing her marital duties. However, the court ruled in favor of the wife, emphasizing that organ donation is a matter of personal bodily autonomy and no one can be forced to donate, even between spouses. The couple eventually divorced.
