Compare LGBT Rights in China & South Korea

Equality Index ?
54 / 100
50 / 100
Legal Index ?
42 / 100
60 / 100
Public Opinion Index ?
66 / 100
39 / 100
Law
Homosexual activityLegal
Since 1997
Legal
Same-sex marriageOther type of partnership
Since 2017
Foreign same-sex marriages recognized only
Since 2019
Censorship of LGBT issuesState-enforced
Since 2016
No censorship
Since 2003
Right to change legal genderLegal, but requires surgery
Since 1986
Legal, no restrictions
Since 2020
Gender-affirming careRestrictedRestricted
Legal recognition of non-binary genderNot legally recognizedNot legally recognized
Hate crime protectionsUnknownUnknown
LGBT discriminationNo protectionsVaries by Region
LGBT employment discriminationNo protectionsVaries by Region
LGBT housing discriminationNo protectionsVaries by Region
Same-sex adoptionSingle onlyIllegal
Intersex infant surgeryNot bannedNot banned
Serving openly in militaryAmbiguousIllegal
Blood donations by MSMsBanned (indefinite deferral)
Since 2012
Legal
Conversion therapyNot bannedNot banned
Equal age of consentEqual
Since 1997
Equal
Public Opinion
Acceptance of homosexuals as neighbors
(World Values Survey, 2017-2022)
28% Did not mention homosexuals
71% Mentioned homosexuals
20% Did not mention homosexuals
80% Mentioned homosexuals
Justifiability of homosexuality
(World Values Survey, 2017-2022)
7% Justifiable
80% Not justifiable
3% Justifiable
61% Not justifiable
Views on same-sex marriage or other legal recognition
(Ipsos, April–May, 2021)
63% Support
19% Against
54% Support
26% Against
Views on same-sex couples' right to adopt
(Ipsos, April–May, 2021)
66% Agree
30% Disagree
46% Agree
45% Disagree
Opinion on same-sex couples as parents
(World Values Survey, 2017-2020)
12% Agree
60% Disagree
23% Agree
40% Disagree
"Should society accept homosexuality?"
(Pew Research Center, May–October, 2019)
Region not surveyed
44% Yes
53% No
Justifiability of homosexuality
(World Values Survey, 2010-2014)
4% Justifiable
68% Not justifiable
7% Justifiable
58% Not justifiable
"Should society accept homosexuality?"
(Pew Research Center, June, 2013)
21% Yes
57% No
39% Yes
59% No
Perceptions of local area as a "good place" for gay and lesbian people
(Gallup, 2013)
14% Good place
53% Not a good place
18% Good place
57% Not a good place
Full DetailsFull Details

Full details about each issue can be found on each region's page. Data missing from the above chart? You can help! Sign up or log in to contribute information to Equaldex!

Share This Comparison