The Supreme Court in South Korea ruled Thursday that same-sex couples are eligible to receive the same health insurance benefits as heterosexual couples, a landmark verdict hailed by human rights groups.
The Supreme Court said it ruled that the state health insurance agency’s refusal to provide spousal insurance coverage for gay couples was an act of discrimination that violates the constitutional principle of equality.
Thursday’s ruling is final and cannot be appealed.
“Today’s ruling is a historic victory for equality and human rights in South Korea,” Amnesty International said in a statement. “The court has taken a significant step towards dismantling systemic discrimination and ensuring inclusivity for all.”
A legal battle between a gay couple, So Seong-wook and Kim Yong-min, and the National Health Insurance Service began after the insurance agency revoked So’s registration as a dependent of Kim, prompting So to file an administrative suit.
In 2022, the Seoul Administrative Court ruled in favor of the insurance agency. But in February 2023, the Seoul High Court overturned the earlier verdict, saying that denying So’s spousal coverage rights without reasonable grounds was discriminatory because such benefits are given to heterosexual couples.
While LGBTQ rights issues in South Korea have gradually changed in recent years, the conservative East Asian country still has a long way to go to guarantee complete equality for sexual minorities. South Korea doesn’t legally recognize same-sex marriages or civil unions.
Nonetheless, Thursday’s decision by the Supreme Court itself is a sobering reminder of the progress being made toward equality and inclusivity in South Korea.
Source: AP
