Constitutional court upholds ban on adultery

South Korea's Constitutional Court upheld a ban on adultery yesterday, rejecting complaints that the 55-year-old law is outdated and constitutes an invasion of privacy.

The decision was the fourth since a 1990 ruling upheld a law that makes it a crime to have an extramarital affair. Guilty spouses face up to two years in prison if convicted, though few end up behind bars.

Among those facing prison on adultery charges is a popular South Korean movie star at the center of a tawdry scandal involving her husband, his opera singer friend and an Italian chef.