In a groundbreaking decision for gay rights in South Korea, the country’s Supreme Court has ruled that same-sex couples are eligible for national health insurance’s dependent coverage. This ruling has been celebrated by rights activists as a potential step towards legalizing same-sex marriage in the country.
The Supreme Court’s ruling now allows same-sex couples in South Korea to register their partners as dependents in the national health insurance coverage, similar to how married couples or those in common-law marriages can. This change signifies a significant shift in policy that was previously denied to same-sex and non-traditional couples in the country.
In its decision, the highest court in South Korea emphasized that denying national health insurance dependent coverage to same-sex couples solely based on their sexual orientation constitutes serious discrimination. The court stated that such discrimination infringes upon citizens’ dignity, values, rights to pursue happiness, freedom of privacy, and their entitlement to equal treatment under the law.
