Korean Netizens Celebrate The Government Recognizing Same-Sex Marriage For The First Time
After a monumental ruling by the Supreme Court of Korea on July 18, wherein the apex court recognized the rights of a same-sex couple, the government has acknowledged their spousal rights as well.
The case began with So Sung Wook and Kim Yong Min being deprived of their spousal rights by the National Health Insurance Service (NHIS). Kim and So had registered as a national health insurance policyholder and his dependent, respectively, in 2020. While the insurance agency had originally acknowledged So as a dependent, offering him coverage under partner Kim’s employer-based health insurance program, the agency flipped its judgment. This resulted in late fees being imposed in the fall of 2020, with the claim that “his marital status was not validated.”
So then filed an administrative lawsuit against the NHIS in 2021, and later the high court ruled in his favor. On July 18, the apex court of South Korea also recognized So Sung Wook as eligible for coverage under his partner Kim Yong Min’s national health insurance coverage subscription.
The National Health Insurance Act does not exclude a non-earning partner in a same-sex relationship (from its beneficiaries),’ read the Supreme Court ruling. The ruling has viewed same-sex couples as an ‘economic community akin to a conjugal partnership. It is a discrimination of sexual orientation to exempt (a beneficiary from the same benefits as heterosexual couples). It is also an act of discrimination that infringes on the rights to be treated equally under the law, the right to pursue happiness, freedom of privacy and violates human dignity and value.
— The Korea Herald
According to latest report, following this landmark ruling, So Seon Wook has officially been registered as the dependent of Kim Yong Min by the NHIS as “husband (common law).” According to Kim, the NHIS informed him about this over a simple phone call, confirming that So was registered as his spouse on their website.
The news has garnered enthusiastic reactions from netizens, most of whom are elated to see South Korea making progress in recognizing same-sex relationships.
- “Congratulations!!!”
- “Oh! Congrats!”
- “Wow, daebak! Seriously, like the quote there says, if same-sex marriage is legalized, nothing will happen. So don’t act like the world is going to end.”
- “Amazing!”
- “Wow!! Congrats TTTT I’m so proud.”
—“The Confucian nation of the Republic of Korea has done it~!~!!~!~!” - “Oh!”
- “Whoa!”
- “Finally, the world is changing!”
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