“A Boyfriend at a Major Corporation Gives Luxury Gifts, but His Looks Are... Can I Get a Share of the Assets After a Short Marriage?” [This Law]

[Financial News]  A woman in her 30s has shared her dilemma over whether to marry a boyfriend who is financially well-off and treats her well, but whom she does not love.

On the 28th of last month, a video titled “A Wealthy, Considerate Boyfriend: Should I Marry Him Even If I Don’t Love Him?” was posted on the YouTube channel “Lawyer Yang Na-rae.”
A, 38, who works at a small or midsize company, began, “I’m average in both looks and financial means, and even if I get married, I won’t be able to get financial help from my family.” 
A reportedly became anxious as she watched her friends get married and have children one by one, and finally mustered up the courage to join a matchmaking agency. She decided to choose a partner based on his financial circumstances and began a relationship with the 11th man she met. Her boyfriend, who works for a major corporation and is financially comfortable, was easy to talk to and openly expressed his feelings for A. He gave her luxury gifts and took her to upscale omakase restaurants.
A confessed, “I felt, ‘He must really love me,’ but I also thought, ‘If I don’t date this person, when else will I get gifts like these and go to nice places?’ Still, I was disappointed because his looks were far from my ideal type.”
Since they had started dating with marriage in mind, marriage came up after just a month or two, and A agreed, thinking, “That wouldn’t be so bad.” After the formal meeting between the families, her mother asked, “He seems quite young and has a nice personality. What do you like about him that makes you want to marry him?” A reportedly replied first, “He works for a major corporation and has a lot of money.” 
A sought advice, saying, “It’s true that I think money is important, but I was shocked that the first things that came to mind when I was asked what was good about my boyfriend were his major corporation and his money. I’m wondering whether it’s okay to marry someone I don’t love, and if we were to marry and then divorce after a short time, whether registering the marriage would be advantageous when it comes to dividing our assets.”

Lawyer Yang, who heard the woman’s story, advised, “Some people put conditions first, marry someone who meets those conditions, and live happily. Marrying based on conditions isn’t necessarily bad. But whether it’s love or conditions, you need to be clear about your own priorities. A marriage you drift into while looking for the next-best option could leave you with deep regret.” 
On asset division, she said, “Even without registering the marriage, you may be entitled to a share of the assets if you have been married for a certain period and contributed to the shared assets.” But she added, “Focusing first on what would be advantageous in a divorce means you’re not prepared to stay married for long.” She stressed, “Since the wedding hasn’t happened yet, don’t rush. First think about whether this marriage is right for you.” 

[email protected] Kim Su-yeon Reporter