A Cambodian woman was arrested in South Korea on Monday for allegedly cutting off the penis of her Korean husband, according to South Korean media reports.

The Korea Times reported that the 26-year-old woman, whose name was not disclosed, was arrested after severing the genitals of her 52-year-old husband, Yang, who had fallen asleep after consuming alcohol.

The husband’s genitals were later surgically reattached after he was rushed to hospital where doctors deemed the wound not to be life threatening.

Family members and neighbours testified that the couple had often quarreled since their marriage in October 2007, with some suggesting the wife suspected Yang of having an affair.

Bith Kimhong, director of the Anti-Human Trafficking and Juvenile Protection Department at the Ministry of Interior, said Cambodian embassy officials would cooperate with South Korean authorities in accordance with local law.

“We frequently get news of domestic violence cases in Korea because our people often marry with Koreans and live in their families,” he said, adding he was unaware of the specific details of the case.

Officials at the South Korean Embassy in Phnom Penh declined to comment today.

In April 2008, the Cambodian government banned Cambodians from marrying foreigners, a ban which was repealed in early 2009.