South Korea’s gay couples fight for recognition – one law at a time

In this socially conservative society, they are part of a vanguard confronting rampant discrimination against the LGBT+ community, writes Min Joo Kim

Kim Yong-min, left, and So Sung-wook took legal action after they were told same-sex partners were not eligible to be listed as dependents on health insurance (Washington Post/Jean Chung)

So Sung-wook and Kim Yong-min got “married” in pink and green tuxedos as groom and groom. Jin and Jay Park marched down the aisle amid cheers and tears from the guests, in what the women said was “just a big fat Korean wedding” – even if neither same-sex union is legally recognised in South Korea.

In this socially conservative society where homosexuality remains taboo, these couples are part of a vanguard confronting rampant discrimination against the LGBT+ community. They are fighting for the ability to collect prescriptions for sick partners. They are challenging health insurers in court. They are even preparing for death by writing legally binding wills for each other.

“These are things I would not have to even think about if I was heterosexual,” says Jay Park, who is 27 and, until recently, worked at a small start-up. Spousal rights are necessary to take care of one another “until, or even after, death do us part”, she says.