Gay marriage in korea

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Love Wins! A enormous step forward to marriage equality

: The Supreme Court of Korea Recognized National Health Insurance Dependent Status of Same-sex Spouse

(Seoul, July 18, ) &#; On July 18, , at PM, the Supreme Court of Korea dismissed the National Health Insurance Service&#;s (NHIS) appeal in the case filed by a same-sex couple, Mr. Kim Yong-min and Mr. So Sung-uk, challenging the NHIS&#;s decision to revoke Mr. So&#;s status as a dependent under Mr. Kim&#;s employer-provided health insurance design. The Supreme Court&#;s en banc decision upholds the lower court&#;s ruling.

Statement of Marriage For All Korea on the current ruling

The recent decision by the Supreme Court&#;s en banc panel is a landmark ruling that, for the first time, recognizes the legal status of a same-sex spouse as a dependent under health insurance. This decision brings expectation to other same-sex couples living in Korean community and is a massive milestone toward marriage equality and equal citizenship for LGBTQ people. However, gay couples who are not legally recognized in their marriage still experience variou

'Historic victory': South Korea's uppermost court recognises same-sex couples' rights

South Korea's Supreme Court recognised new rights for same-sex couples Thursday, saying the state must provide health insurance for a gay man's partner in a landmark ruling.

The background: The case was brought by a gay couple, So Seong-wook and Kim Yong-min, who live together and held a wedding ceremony in

It had no legal validity, however, as South Korea does not recognise same-sex marriage.

In , So sued the National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) because it terminated benefits for his significant other after discovering they were a gay couple.

A Seoul High Court found in favour of the couple last year.

The service appealed the decision, escalating the case to the Supreme Court.

The key quote: "It is discrimination based on sexual orientation to exclude the couple just because they are same-sex," the court ruled.

"It is a discriminatory act that violates human dignity and values, the right to pursue happiness, freedom of privacy, and the right to be equal before the law."

What else to know: Amnesty International said the rul

Where does Korea stand on same-sex marriage?

Landmark ruling in February bolstered hopes of expansion of legal rights for gay couples, but hurdles remain

A ruling last month by a elevated court in Seoul has resurrected the debate on same-sex marriages, which, unlike in many other countries, is a topic rarely-discussed in South Korea.

The judgement acknowledged people in queer partnerships as eligible dependents for national health insurance coverage under a partner’s subscription, a decision which was hailed by sexual minorities and their advocates, and denounced by naysayers, including conservative Christian groups.

“Common-law marriages and same-sex partnerships are essentially the alike in that they create an emotional and economic union through living together. Excluding same-sex partners from coverage while including common-law spouses is therefore a violation of the concept of equality,” the court said on Feb.

The court stated, however, that the partnership of the couple -- So Sung-uk and Kim Yong-min -- would not be legally recognized as a common-law marriage under the current Korean legal system.

While the ruling marked a step forward in the legal protection of p

S Korea top court upholds right to state health benefits for gay couples

South Korea’s top court has said that the express must provide health insurance for same-sex partners.

The Supreme Court delivered the landmark ruling on Thursday, opening the way for common-law couples of the alike sex to now register as dependents on their partner’s health insurance.

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Chief Justice Jo Hee-de said that denying same-sex couples such benefits because of gender constitutes discrimination based on sexual orientation.

“It is an act of discrimination that violates human dignity and value, the right to pursue happiness, autonomy of privacy and the right to equality before the law, and the degree of violation is serious,” Jo said.

The case was brought by So Seong-wook and Kim Yong-min, a cohabiting gay couple whose marriage in is not considered legal under South Korean law, which does not recognise homosexual marriage.