Because most people are sheep. “I can intervene, possibly get a beating, and spend the evening in the ER, followed by months of expensive medical treatment and legal proceedings, and possibly a divorce after hearing my wife scream ‘why did you have to get involved?’ over and over... or I can look the other way and be enjoying a scotch on my sofa at home in fifteen minutes.” This sort of thinking is typical of the average “man”, in Korea and right here in the USA.
Of course, no real man could stand and watch a feral human such as this terrorize a woman. Going to jail and/or getting beaten senseless are not the worst thing in the world. I’d step in, and let the chips fall where they may.
First of all, Asians can be very restrained in their reactions to this sort of thing. Second, the police are the main sources of such intervention and they are not encouraged to take the law into their own hands. Third, they have probably just learned more about our problems that we have to deal with here at home.
Really, have you spent a lot of time in Korea that you know their culture?
The South Koreans have drunk the koolaid? I Served in Korea in 60 and 61 and served with the Koreans in Vietnam in 67 and 68. I thought they would mob up on the guy.
Do you have anyone who depends on you, and can't afford that sacrifice? I'm not talking about a spouse who can take care of herself in your absence. I'm not talking about family and friends who would miss you. I mean somebody who depends on you, like a disabled family member or children who depend on you for their care.
There are many possible reasons for not stepping in, and not all of those reasons are selfish.