Screenshots of the violent viral video that led to the man's detention for beating his Vietnamese wife. — Photo Korea Times

SEOUL — Police in the Republic of Korea have arrested a 36-year-old man for beating his Vietnamese-born wife after a video went viral of him punching and kicking her in the presence of their two-year-old son.

The man, whose identity was withheld, beat his wife for three hours starting at 9pm on July 4 at their home in Yeongam, South Jeolla Province, about 300km south of Seoul, for not speaking Korean well.

The violence left her with a broken rib and other injuries that require four weeks of treatment.

An acquaintance of hers reported the case to police the following day.

The case became widely known after a video clip of his violence went viral online. 

The Women Migrants Human Rights Centre of Korea said last Friday that the centre is offering support to the victim.

Police called the man in for questioning before putting him into emergency detention in consideration of the case's seriousness and concerns that he may use violence against her again.

Police plan to seek an arrest warrant for him and discuss protection measures for the wife, officials said. — VNS