Compare LGBT Rights in South Korea & Japan

Equality Index ?
46 / 100
53 / 100
Legal Index ?
53 / 100
57 / 100
Public Opinion Index ?
39 / 100
50 / 100
Law
Homosexual activityLegalLegal
Since 1881
Same-sex marriageUnregistered cohabitation
Since 2023
Unregistered cohabitation
Since 2024
Censorship of LGBT issuesNo censorship
Since 2003
No censorship
Right to change legal genderLegal, no restrictions
Since 2020
Legal, but requires surgery
Since 2022
Gender-affirming careRestrictedLegal, but restricted for minors
Since 1997
Legal recognition of non-binary genderNot legally recognizedNot legally recognized
Hate crime protectionsNo protectionsNo protections
LGBT discriminationVaries by RegionIllegal in some contexts
Since 2018
LGBT employment discriminationVaries by RegionVaries by Region
LGBT housing discriminationVaries by RegionSexual orientation and gender identity
Since 2003
Same-sex adoptionIllegalAmbiguous
Intersex infant surgeryNot bannedNot banned
Serving openly in militaryIllegalLegal
Since 1947
Blood donations by MSMsLegalBanned (6-month deferral)
Since 2011
Conversion therapyNot bannedNot banned
Equal age of consentEqualEqual
Since 1947
Public Opinion
Acceptance of homosexuals as neighbors
(World Values Survey, 2017-2022)
20% Did not mention homosexuals
80% Mentioned homosexuals
71% Did not mention homosexuals
26% Mentioned homosexuals
Justifiability of homosexuality
(World Values Survey, 2017-2022)
3% Justifiable
61% Not justifiable
43% Justifiable
15% Not justifiable
Views on same-sex marriage or other legal recognition
(Ipsos, April–May, 2021)
54% Support
26% Against
69% Support
6% Against
Views on same-sex couples' right to adopt
(Ipsos, April–May, 2021)
46% Agree
45% Disagree
68% Agree
20% Disagree
Opinion on same-sex couples as parents
(World Values Survey, 2017-2020)
23% Agree
40% Disagree
44% Agree
10% Disagree
"Should society accept homosexuality?"
(Pew Research Center, May–October, 2019)
44% Yes
53% No
68% Yes
22% No
Justifiability of homosexuality
(World Values Survey, 2010-2014)
7% Justifiable
58% Not justifiable
23% Justifiable
28% Not justifiable
"Should society accept homosexuality?"
(Pew Research Center, June, 2013)
39% Yes
59% No
54% Yes
36% No
Perceptions of local area as a "good place" for gay and lesbian people
(Gallup, 2013)
18% Good place
57% Not a good place
28% Good place
39% Not a good place
Full DetailsFull Details

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