In a landmark ruling for gay rights in South Korea on Thursday, the country's Supreme Court ruled that same-sex couples qualify for the national health insurance's dependent coverage, a decision that rights activists hoped could pave the way for legalizing same-sex marriage in the country.

The decision would allow same-sex couples in the country to register their partners as dependents in national health insurance coverage like married couples or couples in a common-law marriage can. It was one of the numerous benefits denied to same-sex and other couples living outside of the traditional norms of family in South Korea.

In its ruling on Thursday, the country's highest court ruled that denying a same-sex couple national health insurance dependent coverage "just because they are of the same sex" constitutes a serious discrimination that infringed upon citizens' "dignity and values, their rights to pursue happiness, their freedom of privacy and their rights to be equally treated by the law."

In its final say on the case on Thursday, the Supreme Court endorsed the appeals court ruling. It said that same-sex couples formed an "economic cohabitation tantamount to" married and common-law couples.

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[–] autotldr@lemmings.world 1 points 1 year ago

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So wanted to register in the national health insurance program as a dependent of his partner, Kim Yong-min, arguing that their union should be treated as a common-law marriage.

It said that although Mr. Kim and Mr. So’s union could not be considered a common-law marriage under South Korean laws, they should still qualify for the national health insurance’s dependent coverage.

“I hope today’s ruling will serve as a steppingstone toward enabling sexual minorities to gain equality in the system of marriage,” Mr.

“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.”

Conservative Christians in South Korea have long campaigned against legalizing same-sex marriage or introducing an anti-discrimination law that protects people of any gender, age, sexual identity or physical ability.

At the turn of the century, only 17 percent of South Koreans were in favor of legalizing same-sex marriage, according to Gallup Korea, a survey company.

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