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LGBT Rights in Pyongyang Capital City

Pyongyang is governed by federal North Korea law. Learn more
    Homosexuality
    ⚢
    N/A
    Gay Marriage
    ⚭
    ✖ Unrecognized
    Censorship
    ✖ State-enforced
    Changing Gender
    Unknown
    Gender-Affirming Care
    Unknown
    Non-Binary Gender Recognition
    ✖ Not legally recognized
    Discrimination
    ✖ No protections
    Employment Discrimination
    Unknown
    Housing Discrimination
    Unknown
    Adoption
    Unknown
    Intersex Infant Surgery
    Unknown
    Military
    ✖ Don't Ask, Don't Tell
    Donating Blood
    Unknown
    Conversion Therapy
    Unknown
    Age of Consent
    ✔ Equal
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Public Opinion

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History

Homosexual activity in Pyongyang

?

Homosexual activity in Pyongyang is n/a.

Current status
Since Sep 14, 1948
N/A
Contrary to popular belief, homosexuality is technically not against the law in North Korea, however, North Korea is a sexually conservative country, and this applies to sexuality anywhere on the spectrum. Overt shows of affection by anyone of any sexual orientation tend to be frowned upon. There are, however, claims that it is de facto illegal, but this has no official backing. (Date shown is the date of North Korean statehood.)

While punishment is rare, it has been reported by The Korean Times that North Korea has executed a lesbian couple for being influenced by capitalism and bringing corruption of public morals.

However, even though de jure homosexuality is not prohibited, de facto there were some cases of punishment for LGBT people
Details  ·  Accurate? Yes No
Sources:
outrightinternational.org/o…
youngpioneertours.com/lgbt-…
koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/n…
cnn.com/2017/04/24/asia/nor…
Added by bradcoffey106  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

Same-sex marriage in Pyongyang

?

Same-sex marriage in Pyongyang is unrecognized.

Current status
Unrecognized
Depiction in media of affection in North Korea tend to be very rare, and no law against gay marriage exists in the constitution.
Details  ·  Accurate? Yes No
Sources:
refworld.org/cgi-bin/texis/…
Added by bradcoffey106  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

Censorship of LGBT Issues in Pyongyang

?

Censorship of LGBT Issues in Pyongyang is state-enforced.

Current status
Since Sep 14, 1948
State-enforced
Censorship topics are all controlled by the government
Details  ·  Accurate? Yes No
Sources:
database.ilga.org/north-kor…
Added by Hearts4Al  ·  1 accurate vote  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

Right to change legal gender in Pyongyang

?

Right to change legal gender in Pyongyang is unknown.

Current status
Unknown

Gender-Affirming Care in Pyongyang

?

Gender-Affirming Care in Pyongyang is unknown.

Current status
Unknown

Legal recognition of non-binary gender in Pyongyang

?

Legal recognition of non-binary gender in Pyongyang is not legally recognized.

Current status
Not legally recognized
No legal recognition of non-binary gender
Details  ·  Accurate? Yes No
Sources:
nationalgeographic.com/maga…
Added by maddyksf  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

LGBT discrimination in Pyongyang

?

LGBT discrimination in Pyongyang is no protections.

Current status
Since Sep 14, 1948
No protections
Because sexual orientation as a concept does not appear in North Korea law, there is no legal prohibition of discrimination by state and nonstate actors based on sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or sex characteristics.
Details  ·  Accurate? Yes No
Sources:
state.gov/reports/2022-coun…
ilga.org/downloads/ILGA_Wor… (page 328)
koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/n…
Added by bradcoffey106  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

LGBT employment discrimination in Pyongyang

?

LGBT employment discrimination in Pyongyang is unknown.

Current status
Unknown

LGBT housing discrimination in Pyongyang

?

LGBT housing discrimination in Pyongyang is unknown.

Current status
Unknown

Same-sex adoption in Pyongyang

?

Same-sex adoption in Pyongyang is unknown.

Current status
Unknown

Intersex infant surgery in Pyongyang

?

Intersex infant surgery in Pyongyang is unknown.

Current status
Unknown

Serving openly in military in Pyongyang

?

Serving openly in military in Pyongyang is don't ask, don't tell.

Current status
Since Sep 14, 1948
Don't Ask, Don't Tell
Some secondary sources claim it is a "Don't Ask Don't Tell" situation. But, based on a North Korean propaganda film from the year 2000, male homosexuality may be against the law in the military, including for prisoners of war. Information is extremely limited, because North Korea heavily censors LGBT content.
Details  ·  Accurate? Yes No
Sources:
Myers, B. R. The Cleanest Race: How North Koreans See Themselves and Why It Matters. Melville House, 2011.
Ultimately sourced from North Korean propaganda film, "Snowstorm in Pyongyang" (2000).
Hassig and Oh (2009) The Hidden People of North Korea
Martin (2006) Under the Loving Care of the Fatherly Leader, p. 521
Added by Ratabzoo  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

Blood donations by MSMs in Pyongyang

?

Blood donations by MSMs in Pyongyang is unknown.

Current status
Unknown

Conversion therapy in Pyongyang

?

Conversion therapy in Pyongyang is unknown.

Current status
Unknown

Equal age of consent in Pyongyang

?

Equal age of consent in Pyongyang is equal.

Current status
Since 2009
Equal
Under the Article 295 of the North Korean Criminal Law, the age of consent is 15 irrespectively of gender of parties.
Details  ·  Accurate? Yes No
Sources:
hrnk.org/uploads/pdfs/The%2…
Added by James  ·  1 accurate vote  ·  Report Error  ·  Log
Equality Index ?
N/A
There is not enough information on Pyongyang for an Equality Index to be assigned. Please contribute LGBTQ+ rights information or survey results that show the public opinion of LGBTQ+ issues in Pyongyang to help improve its accuracy.

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