, South Korea
996 view s
/Tirachardz from Freepik

S. Korea’s same-sex couples eligible for health insurance

“Love has won again,” said So Seong-wook, a plaintiff.

South Korea’s Supreme Court has ruled in favour of same-sex couples seeking spousal coverage for national health inusrance benefits, a huge win towards recognising the the LGBTQIA+ community in the country, reported Bloomberg.

On Thursday, the court declared same-sex couples eligible dependents for public health insurance, a first in the nation's history concerning marriage equality. 

However, the ruling is limited to the healthcare system and does not equate to full legal recognition of same-sex marriages.

The court stated that withdrawing spousal insurance coverage constituted discrimination based on sexual orientation. 

Amnesty International's East Asia researcher, Boram Jang, hailed the decision as a historic victory for equality and human rights in South Korea. 

However, Jang also noted the protracted judicial processes that same-sex couples must endure to secure basic rights.

The plaintiffs, Kim Yong-min and So Seong-wook, filed the lawsuit in 2021 after the National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) revoked their spousal benefits following media coverage of their same-sex union. 

They argued that they were being discriminated against, despite NHIS regulations that permit spousal status for common-law partners, even though South Korea only legally recognizes marriages between heterosexual couples.

Support for same-sex marriage in South Korea is relatively low compared to other Asian countries. 

A Pew Research survey from November showed that 41% of South Koreans supported same-sex unions, placing the country ninth out of 12 surveyed. 

Japan had the highest support at 68%, whilst Indonesia ranked lowest at 5%.

So Seong-wook expressed his joy at the ruling, stating, "Love has won again," at a news conference.

Follow the link s for more news on

Join Insurance Asia community
Since you're here...

...there are many ways you can work with us to advertise your company and connect to your customers. Our team can help you dight and create an advertising campaign, in print and digital, on this website and in print magazine.

We can also organize a real life or digital event for you and find thought leader speakers as well as industry leaders, who could be your potential partners, to join the event. We also run some awards programmes which give you an opportunity to be recognized for your achievements during the year and you can join this as a participant or a sponsor.

Let us help you drive your business forward with a good partnership!

Exclusives

Income-Allianz failed merger shows popular opinion is king
The deal faced backlash from Singaporeans who thought it betrayed Income’s social mission.
Filipino gamers hold promise for FWD
The insurer plans to support other games and aspects of the gaming ecosystem beyond esports.