가족법에서 헌법적 가치의 실현

This article reviews the problem of Korean family law, with special reference to its revision process and the present state from the perspective of the realization of Korean consitutional values. After examining the various discussion of the Korean constitutional values at a time when the Korean civil law was enacted, this article discusses the question of the protection of constitutional values and conflicting issues since the enactment of the Korean civil law. On this basis, this article also considers the level of the realization of constitutional values during continued revision of the family law in Korea. Lastly, this article examines the legitimacy of Korean family law by way of reviewing various institutions provided within the structure of the family law, which have been subjected to constitutional review by the Korean Constitutional Court. As soon as the Korean family law was enacted, various controversies arose, particularly since 1970s. However, it was also true that the revisionist position was not always supported by the majority of the general public and the question of the revision of the family law was not seriously considered within the National Assembly as well. Although the majority view in the academic community was in favour of the revision of the family law and women's movement groups took the same position, the general public which had been silent was not necessarily supportive of the revisionist view. The Yurim, the Korean extreme conservative group fiercly opposed the revisionist view. As the Korean Constitutional Court was being actively functioning, the revisionist element started to change strategy in a way to raise the problem of the constitutionality of particular provisions in the family law, which is very effective method. Householder system and the prohibition of marriage between same origins are no longer effective in the Korean civil law system as a result of the judgement of the Korean Constitutional Court. Relevant legislative measures was completed in 2005 by the revision of the problematic provisions in the family law. As a matter of fact, this also represents that there had been inherent conflicts between the above mentioned groups in the Korean society. Even if some provisions were accepted in terms of the constitutionality by the Korean Constitutional Court, this does not mean that those provisons are accepted throughly and normatively in the Korean society on the whole. Family law inherently contains traditional factors according the uniqueness of the Korean society, but one should not overlook the fact that international standards have been developing and evolving for the propose of the protection of the rights of the child and the guarantee of equality of sex. Thus, it would be problematic to argue that Korean traditional values should be a number one priority ignoring the development of international human rights standards. In this regard, constant review of the constitutionality of various provisions in the family law by the Korean Constitutional Court would be necessary and desirable. Through this process, Korean family law will be more likely to be in accordance with the Korean constitutional values and principles.