In South Korea, the supreme court upheld a ruling that made those in same-sex relationships eligible for spousal benefits from state health insurance.
This decision confirmed an earlier landmark decision by the Seoul High Court that early last year ruled that the National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) should provide equal spousal coverage to a gay couple that filed the case.
In 2021, gay partners So Sung-wook and Kim Yong-min filed a suit against NHIS after it cancelled their spousal benefits.
In a televised trial, Chief Justice Jo Hee-de said there are no clauses in the national health insurance act that specifically refer to same-sex unions. However, denying the couple these benefits still constituted discrimination based on sexual orientation.
“It is an act of discrimination that violates human dignity and value, the right to pursue happiness, freedom of privacy and the right to equality before the law, and the degree of violation is serious,” the judge stated.
Interestingly, South Korea still does not allow LGBTQIA people to marry, and the court’s decision does not change this law. But it is still seen as a stepping stone for the promotion of LGBTQIA human rights in South Korea.
