For the first time in history, a South Korean court has acknowledged the rights of a queer couple. The Seoul High Court ruled that a government health insurer owed coverage to the partner of a customer after the insurer withdrew it upon finding out the couple was gay.
Although same-sex marriage is not legal in South Korea, the two men, So Seong-wook and Kim Yongmin, held a wedding ceremony in 2019. At first, the couple was granted coverage by National Health Insurance Service, but after the National Health Insurance Service learned of their same-sex relationship, they said they had made a mistake and revoked it. In 2021, the plaintiff, So Seong-wook, sued the National Health Insurance Service after being denied coverage on Kim Yongmin’s plan.
The Seoul High Court found spousal coverage under the NHIS extended to not just families as defined by law. It also found that by denying the couple coverage, the firm was engaging in discrimination.
“I think it has a great meaning for LGBTQ people who have been in a discriminatory situation, those who support them and all those who are discriminated against,” So Seong-wook told the BBC. He praised the court for seeing “the principle of equality as an important issue.”
“There is still a long way to go to end discrimination against the LGBTI community, but this ruling offers hope that prejudice can be overcome,” Amnesty International said in a statement. The ruling is a positive step forward in LGBTQ+ rights and representation in South Korea.
What Do You Think?