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The Supreme Court has also acknowledged Thursday that same-sex couples as eligible dependents to be covered by the public health insurer. read more
 "Korea SC recognises same-sex couple rights in landmark ruling")
Kim Eun-ha, 33, and her lesbian partner Park Cho-hyeon, 28, walk on a street in Suwon, South Korea. File Photo- Reuters
In a landmark decision, South Korea’s Supreme Court has ruled in favour of same-sex couples seeking spousal benefits under the national health insurance program. This judgment is believed to potentially open the door for the legalisation of same-sex marriage in the country.
“National Health Insurance should recognise spousal insurance coverage for same-sex couples,” the court ruled. The verdict means that common law spouses of the same sex can now register as dependents on their partners’ health insurance.
The court’s decision is being considered a significant milestone in the fight for LGBTQ+ rights in the country. South Korea’s fertility rate, already the world’s lowest, continued its dramatic decline in 2023, as women concerned about their career advancement and the financial cost of raising children decided to delay childbirth or to not have babies.
The average number of expected babies for a South Korean woman during her reproductive life fell to a record low of 0.72 from 0.78 in 2022, data from Statistics Korea showed
South Korea’s demographic crisis has become the top risk to economic growth and the social welfare system, with the country’s population of 51 million on track to halve by the end of this century.
South Korea has spent billions of dollars to try to stop its population from shrinking, as concerns about career advancement and the financial cost of raising children drive many South Korean women to delay childbirth or not have children at all.
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