The ruling means the country's National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) can be claimed by people in same-sex partnerships, with the Supreme Court saying that treating same-sex couples differently from their heterosexual peers was an act of serious discrimination.
Denial of spousal insurance coverage to a gay couple because of their gender constituted discrimination based on sexual orientation, Chief Justice Jo Hee-de explained.
Kim Yong-min expressed his happiness, stating: 'It took four years to earn this dependent status and we need to fight harder to legalize same-sex marriage going forward.'
Amnesty International's East Asia researcher called the ruling a 'historic victory for equality and human rights in South Korea', urging the country to further embrace equality and inclusiveness.
[
Collection
]
[
|
...
]