South Korea’s Supreme Court Rules in Favor of Same-Sex Couples’ Health Insurance CoverageSouth Korea’s Supreme Court Rules in Favor of Same-Sex Couples’ Health Insurance Coverage Heading: South Korean Supreme Court Grants Same-Sex Couples Health Insurance Coverage Paragraph 1: The country’s highest court has ruled that denying insurance to a gay couple based on their gender constitutes serious discrimination and violates their fundamental rights. Same-sex couples are now eligible for national health insurance coverage, similar to the benefits enjoyed by married or common-law couples. Caption for Image: Representative image of a gay couple (Photo: Wikimedia.org) Paragraph 2: The ruling is a significant step forward in a country where many benefits are traditionally limited to couples within traditional family structures. It also raises hopes that same-sex marriage may eventually be legalized in South Korea. Paragraph 3: The Supreme Court emphasized that same-sex couples constitute an “economic cohabitation equivalent to” married and registered couples, entitling them to the same dependent coverage. This decision has been welcomed by human rights activists as a potential gateway to broader equality for LGBTQ+ individuals. Paragraph 4: The case was brought by a gay couple, So Seong-wook and Kim Yong-min, who were initially denied dependent coverage by the health insurance agency. So’s initial complaint led to a series of legal challenges, culminating in today’s landmark ruling. Paragraph 5: So expressed hope that the ruling will pave the way for further progress towards marriage equality in South Korea. Kim also celebrated the recognition of their partnership, stating, “I’m so happy that the court recognized some of that today.” Paragraph 6: Amnesty International hailed the ruling as historic, highlighting its role in dismantling systemic discrimination and fostering inclusiveness. However, the organization also noted the ongoing legal challenges faced by gay couples in securing basic rights. Paragraph 7: While official data on same-sex relationships in South Korea is limited, there has been a significant increase in the number of people living together in “non-family households.” Despite conservative opposition to LGBTQ+ rights, public attitudes are changing, with growing support for same-sex marriage.
The country’s highest court has ruled that denying insurance to a gay couple based on their gender constitutes serious discrimination
 "South Korean Supreme Court grants gay couples health insurance discount")
Representative image (Photo: Wikimedia.org)
Nandini Singh New Delhi
In a landmark ruling for gay rights, South Korea’s Supreme Court on Thursday declared that same-sex couples are eligible for national health insurance coverage, a decision hailed by human rights activists as a potential gateway to legalizing same-sex marriage in the country.
The court ruling allows same-sex couples to register their partners as dependents for national health insurance, similar to the benefits enjoyed by married couples or people in common-law marriages. It marks a significant step in a country where many benefits are denied to couples outside traditional family norms.
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The country’s highest court ruled that denying insurance to a gay couple based solely on their gender constitutes serious discrimination and violates the dignity, values, right to pursue happiness, freedom of privacy and equality before the law of citizens.
The case was brought by So Seong-wook, who filed a complaint in 2021 after his application to register as a dependent of his partner, Kim Yong-min, was rejected by South Korea’s health insurance agency. The agency’s rejection, which required So to pay a separate monthly insurance premium, was initially upheld by a district court. However, an appeals court overturned that decision in February last year, saying that while So and Kim’s union did not qualify as a common-law marriage under South Korean law, they should still be eligible for dependent coverage.
The Supreme Court’s approval of the appeals court ruling emphasized that same-sex couples constitute an “economic cohabitation equivalent to” married and registered couples.
“I hope today’s ruling will be a stepping stone towards achieving equality in the marriage system for sexual minorities,” So said at a news conference.
Kim, who has long called himself So’s “husband” and “companion” without legal recognition, shared his joy: “I’m so happy that the court recognized some of that today.”
Borang Jang, an East Asia researcher at Amnesty International, called the ruling historic. “The court has taken an important step towards dismantling systemic discrimination and ensuring inclusiveness for all,” she said.
“The case itself is a sobering reminder of the lengthy legal processes that gay couples must endure to secure basic rights that should be universally guaranteed,” she added.
While there is no official data on same-sex relationships in South Korea, government data shows that the number of people living together in “non-family households” doubled to one million between 2016 and 2022.
Despite strong opposition from conservative Christian groups to legalizing same-sex marriage or introducing anti-discrimination laws, public attitudes are changing. Gallup Korea polls show that support for legalizing same-sex marriage has risen from 17 percent at the turn of the century to 40 percent in May of last year.
(With input from the agency)
