In a landmark ruling for the LGBTQ community in South Korea, the Supreme Court has upheld a ruling which grants state insurance benefits to same-sex couples. The top court struck down a government appeal and stated that same-sex couples are entitled to 𒀰the same health insurance benefits as heterosexual couples.
Welcoming the ruling, Amnesty International said - "The Court has taken a s🌜ignificant step towards dismantling systemic discrimination and ensuring inclusi🍌vity for all."
During the hearing on Thursday, the South Korean Supreme Court upheld a ruling made by the Seoul High Court laꦿst year which called for the benefits of the National Insurance Ser✤vice should be extended to a same-sex couple as well.
In the High Cour🌟t r🐓uling, the Insurance service was ordered to provide equal spousal coverage to So Sung-wook and Kim Yong-min - a gay couple who filed a suit in 2021 alleging that the state agency had cancelled their spousal benefits.
During the hearing today, Chief Justice of South Korea Jo Hee-de stated that denying same-🧔sex couples benefits amounts to disc𒈔rimination based on sexual orientation.
"It is an act of discrimination that violates human dignity and value, the right to pursue happiness, freedom of pr🦄ivacy and the righ🦋t to equality before the law, and the degree of violation is serious," stated the Chief Justice.
The Supreme Court's ruling is one of the major steps towards ꦺlegal recognition of same-sex couples in South Korea. Lawyers and activists have stated that the top court's ruling will also help increase the visibility of same-sex couples iꦡn the Asian country.
Despite this win, its a long road to complete legal recognition for same-sex couples in South Korea. The recent rulings in favour of same-sex marriages in𒐪 Taiwan and Thailand are expected to make their ripples in Seoul as well.
