Recognition of same-sex unions in South Korea

Turner and Ikeda attended an official reception with President Moon Jae-in and his wife Kim Jung-sook at the Blue House in October 2019 as "legal spouses".

Kyudok Hong, a professor at Sookmyung Women's University, said that "[this] symbolically shows that the recognition of same-sex marriage is a global trend and that Korea cannot ignore it.

"[3][4] In February 2020, a man in a same-sex relationship, Kim Yong-min, successfully registered his partner, So Seong-wook, as his spouse, allowing So to access his employer's health insurance plan.

[13] "While this decision is a major milestone, the case itself is a sobering reminder of the lengthy judicial processes that same-sex couples must endure to secure basic rights that should be universally guaranteed," Amnesty International said in a statement.

[16] Despite the court ruling, media reported in September 2024 that the NHIS had rejected requests from same-sex couples to receive spousal coverage.

"We are currently reviewing the Supreme Court ruling related to recognizing the standard of life partner of the same sex, and will notify (the applicant) after we've set up the criteria", said the NHIS regarding an unidentified couple who had applied for spousal coverage.

In February 2021, the government announced plans to recognise domestic partnerships for opposite-sex couples in light of the country's falling birthrate, mostly attributed to the cost of raising children and education.

However, debate on the issue has emerged in recent years,[26] and polling suggests rising support for same-sex marriage among the South Korean public, notably among women and the younger generation.

[28] That same year, a same-sex couple, Lee Sang-cheol, 45, and Park Jong-geun, 41, attempted to register their marriage at the local office in Eunpyeong District, but were rejected.

The couple had held a public wedding ceremony in Seoul in September 2013, but their marriage registration form was later rejected by local authorities.

On 25 May 2016, the Seoul Western District Court ruled against the couple, arguing that without clear legislation a same-sex union could not be recognized as a marriage.

The commission stated that without legislative action or a judicial decision it was not permitted under law to recognise a foreign same-sex marriage.

[34][35] In October 2024, eleven same-sex couples announced their intention to file a lawsuit challenging the refusal of Seoul district offices to issue them marriage licenses.

[37] In its campaign bid for the 2004 parliamentary elections, the Democratic Labor Party promised the abolition of all inequalities against sexual minorities and won a record 10 seats in the National Assembly.

[44] An April 2013 Gallup poll revealed that 25% of South Koreans supported same-sex marriage, while 67% opposed it and 8% did not know or had refused to answer.

[50] Another survey in December 2017 conducted by Gallup for MBC and the Speaker of the National Assembly reported that 41% of South Koreans thought same-sex marriage should be allowed, while 53% were against.

[53] A Pew Research Center poll conducted between June and September 2023 showed that 41% of South Koreans supported same-sex marriage, 56% were opposed and 3% did not know or had refused to answer.