The Supreme Court of the Republic of Korea has been hearing a case to determine if a same-sex partner can be registered as a ‘dependent spouse’ under South Korea’s National Health Insurance Service.
Throughout Asia – including South Korea – marriage is predominantly understood and legally recognised as a union between a man and a woman.
The Supreme Court is expected to hand down its ruling in the next few months, although some campaigners have warned the ruling could undermine that definition by redefining the concept of ‘spouse’.
Tehmina Arora, Director of Advocacy, Asia, for ADF International, said, ‘Korea has the sovereign right to reflect the unique, timeless and universal reality of marriage in its domestic law.’
