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 2019.
It had no legal validity, however, as South Korea does not recognise same-sex marriage.
In 2021, So sued the National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) because it terminated benefits for his partner 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 ruling was “a historic victory for equality and human rights in South Korea”.
What happens next: The verdict means common-law spouses of the same sex can now register as dependents on their partners’ health insurance.
