Marital infidelity a hard (and illegal) habit to give up in Thailand (2024)

Marital infidelity a hard (and illegal) habit to give up in Thailand (1)

(Photo by Lillian SUWANRUMPHA / AFP)

Hands up if you know someone who is having an extramarital affair.

In fact, most people reading this will know of someone who is “playing away from home”, given surveys that show infidelity is still a commonplace practice in Thailand.

However, if you believe cheating on your spouse carries no penalties, think again.

Thai law protects the sanctity of wedding vows, and adulterers can face a hefty fine and other, even stricter penalties.

Threat to career prospects

Both the Royal Thai Army (RTA) and the Royal Thai Police recently announced that any of its members found to be unfaithful to their spouse would face disciplinary action. Harsher penalties apply if the offence is repeated or if there are signs of domestic violence.

Cheated-on spouses can also come forward and seek help, including child support that is directly deducted from the husband’s salary.

Just last month, the RTA announced that a junior soldier had been disciplined twice and lost his bonus for failing to be a “model citizen”. This was after his legal spouse complained that her husband was openly conducting a relationship with another woman and abusing her in other ways, too.

According to guidelines set by the Civil Service Commission, civil servants can be fired and even lose their state pension if they are caught engaging in extramarital affairs. This rule is also applicable to common-law relationships.

Long arm of the law

Relationships outside the civil or military service are also protected by law. According to legal experts, a legally married spouse can sue the third person (mistress/paramour) for compensation. The lawsuit, however, must be filed within a year of learning about the affair.

Romantic messages or incriminating photographs can be used as evidence in court, which has a deadline of six months to issue a verdict. If the case is backed by solid proof, the third person will be ordered to pay compensation to the plaintiff.

However, the final compensation – or price for the heartache – is set by the court.

Also, the plaintiff can sue for compensation without divorcing their partner and can file a second lawsuit if the affair continues.

Estranged wives have revealed, on condition of anonymity, that they were paid six-digit compensation thanks to the courts.

A nation of bed-hoppers?

Even though Thai law protects marriages, Thais were found to be most unfaithful nationality in a 2012 survey of 29,000 people in 36 countries conducted by condom manufacturer Durex. Dating website, Match.com, reported similar findings in its survey on infidelity.

Thais’ casual attitude towards marital fidelity is perhaps best illustrated by the constant stream of headline-making celebrity “scandals”. It is no secret that many high-profile Thais like to have more than one partner in their life.

Actress Tanyares Engtrakul often makes headlines for trying to rein in her wayward husband, Sanchai “Peck” Engtrakul.

Last month, Tanyares was quick to offer moral support to a woman who tearfully intervened at her husband’s wedding to his mistress.

“My support goes out to you and your family … Hang in there! #LifeismoredramaticthanTVseries #MajorWifeTeam #WifeNo1,” read Tanyares’s Instagram message to Punpun Mookaew.

Meanwhile, Deputy Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Thamanat Prompow has openly declared he has two wives. When registering his assets before taking his Cabinet post in 2019, he identified Arisara Prompow as his legal spouse and former Miss Thailand Tanap*rn Srivirach as his common-law wife.

Polygamy was accepted practice in Thailand for centuries, before it was banned in 1935 – a few years after the 1932 Siamese Revolution.

By Thai PBS World’s General Desk
Marital infidelity a hard (and illegal) habit to give up in Thailand (2024)

FAQs

Marital infidelity a hard (and illegal) habit to give up in Thailand? ›

Marital infidelity is a hard (and illegal) habit to give up in Thailand (Thai PBS Directorial Team, 2021). This is the evidence that wedlock infidelity among authorities is prevalent. Surveys show infidelity is still a commonplace practice in Thailand.

What is the infidelity rate in Thailand? ›

Thailand: 61%

In the current year (2023), Thailand holds the 4th position with a notably high infidelity rate of 61%.

What is the difference between infidelity and adultery? ›

Infidelity, or cheating, is the act of being either emotionally or physically unfaithful to a spouse or partner, and breaking a commitment or promise during the act. Adultery is engaging in physical, sexual activity, and may be considered a criminal offense and grounds for divorce in certain places.

How to detach from extra marital affairs? ›

6 Ways to Overcome an Extramarital Affair
  1. Give the extramarital affair some perspective. ...
  2. Recognize how each other is feeling and let them process their feelings. ...
  3. Be accountable and set boundaries. ...
  4. Find the point of forgiveness. ...
  5. Support your grieving spouse, no matter what. ...
  6. Take in a novel experience together.
Mar 7, 2022

What to do if wife has extra marital affairs? ›

Consult a marriage counselor.

Marriage counseling can help put the affair into perspective, identify issues that might have contributed to the affair, teach ways to rebuild and strengthen the relationship, and help avoid divorce — if that's the goal.

Is divorce high in Thailand? ›

The divorce rate in Thailand has jumped over the decade, from 27% in 2006 to 39% in 2016. More than a third of Thai couples who registered their marriage in 2016 filed for divorce in Thailand during that same year.

How common is divorce in Thailand? ›

The divorce rate in Thailand has been increasing in recent years. In 2022, there were a total of 146,159 divorces in Thailand, up from 118,539 in 2021. This represents a 23% increase in the number of divorces in just one year.

What does infidelity mean to a man? ›

It typically means engaging in sexual or romantic relations with a person other than one's significant other, breaking a commitment or promise in the act.

Why is infidelity so damaging to a marriage? ›

The faithful romantic partner often finds it incredibly difficult to forgive and to trust again, along with suffering depression, a loss of confidence and more, while the unfaithful partner (cheating partner), can feel prolonged shame and guilt, and increased anxiety over not being “welcomed” back into the relationship ...

Can texting be considered cheating? ›

Some examples of inappropriate texting activity that may signify emotional cheating include: Sexting. Flirting and engaging in playful banter. Intimately emotionallyHaving intimate conversations.

How do most affairs end? ›

Affairs usually end in one of three ways: divorce and remarriage, divorce and relationship loss, or the recommitment to the relationship that was betrayed. Each of these resolutions to an affair has its own pros and cons.

What is the biggest reason for extra marital affairs? ›

A sexless marriage is often claimed as a reason for both men and women. Feeling unappreciated: Feeling undervalued or neglected can lead to infidelity. When both partners work, women often carry the brunt of the housework and childcare. In this case, the affair validates the person's sense of worth.

Why are affairs so hard to end? ›

First, affairs are often a replication waiting to happen. And second, affairs are often forged with the same magnetic power that a marriage is, often rendering the affair as hard to break as a marriage. Thus, ending an affair, especially if it is long-term, may resemble a divorce.

How to punish a cheating husband? ›

10 ways wives revenge on cheating hubbies
  1. Befriend your mpangos. The whole motive behind cheating is to have a hidden affair with a secret mistress. ...
  2. Share your dirty linen everywhere. ...
  3. Date one of your friends. ...
  4. Gain family support. ...
  5. Break your car's windscreen. ...
  6. Walk away. ...
  7. Wait it out. ...
  8. Play the pregnant card.

When to walk away after infidelity? ›

Deciding whether to walk away from a marriage after infidelity is a deeply personal and challenging decision. However, recognizing these three signs – denial, blame-shifting, and an unwillingness to end the affair – can serve as important indicators that your partner may not be worth staying for.

What are the side effects of extra marital affairs? ›

Infidelity causes grief and relational problems to the individual, the couple and even their offspring. It was found to be associated with depression, anxiety and even PTSD, leading to divorce [42,69,70].

What countries have the highest infidelity rate? ›

Which country has the highest infidelity rate? Thailand tops the list of countries with the highest infidelity rate, with more than half reporting cheating.

Which country has the lowest infidelity? ›

Iceland is the country with the least number of cheaters (9%). Some people prefer one-night stands with strangers! In fact, most respondents from Thailand, France, Russia and Australia said they've slept with a stranger behind their partners back.

Is it legal to have more than one wife in Thailand? ›

NO, Thailand does not recognize plural marriages, any longer. It does recognize any faith marriage as long as they are properly documented but they will not allow the registration of more than one wife or husband at a time.

Can you marry more than one wife in Thailand? ›

Such unions are not recognised under Thai law, which states, "A man or a woman cannot marry each other while one of them has a spouse." Even after legally recognized polygamy was abolished, double standards relating to marital behaviors continued, both in law and in practice.

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