South Korean court upholds gay couple’s rights

South Korea’s Supreme Court has ruled that same-sex couples are entitled to spousal coverage under the public health system. The ruling, made on July 18, marks the first legal recognition of same-sex unions in the country. The decision upheld a ruling by the Seoul High Court, which had reversed a lower court’s decision.

In 2021, So Sung-wook sued the National Health Insurance Service after it suspended the benefits of his partner, Kim Yong-min, who was registered as a dependent. The move came after officials discovered they were a couple made up of two men. The lower court initially ruled in favor of the public agency, but the higher court reversed that decision in favor of So and Kim.

Kim Yong-min expressed his joy after the verdict: “I couldn’t believe it when I heard the decision. I was extremely happy and started crying.” He stressed the need to continue fighting for the legalization of same-sex marriage.

Supreme Court Chief Justice Jo Hee-de said denying benefits to the couple constituted discrimination based on sexual orientation, even though the national insurance law does not specifically mention same-sex unions. He described the practice as a serious violation of human dignity, worth, the right to happiness, freedom of privacy and the right to equality before the law.