Compare LGBT Rights in South Korea & Turkey

Equality Index ?
46 / 100
32 / 100
Legal Index ?
53 / 100
32 / 100
Public Opinion Index ?
39 / 100
33 / 100
Law
Homosexual activityLegalLegal
Since 1858
Same-sex marriageUnregistered cohabitation
Since 2023
Banned
Censorship of LGBT issuesNo censorship
Since 2003
State-enforced
Since 2015
Right to change legal genderLegal, no restrictions
Since 2020
Legal, but requires surgery
Since 1988
Gender-affirming careRestrictedLegal, but banned for minors
Since 2025
Legal recognition of non-binary genderNot legally recognizedNot legally recognized
Hate crime protectionsNo protectionsNo protections
LGBT discriminationVaries by RegionNo protections
Since 2016
LGBT employment discriminationVaries by RegionNo protections
Since 2018
LGBT housing discriminationVaries by RegionNo protections
Same-sex adoptionIllegalSingle only
Intersex infant surgeryNot bannedNot banned
Serving openly in militaryIllegalIllegal
Blood donations by MSMsLegalBanned (indefinite deferral)
Conversion therapyNot bannedNot banned
Equal age of consentEqualEqual
Since 1858
Public Opinion
Acceptance of homosexuals as neighbors
(World Values Survey, 2017-2022)
20% Did not mention homosexuals
80% Mentioned homosexuals
21% Did not mention homosexuals
76% Mentioned homosexuals
Justifiability of homosexuality
(World Values Survey, 2017-2022)
3% Justifiable
61% Not justifiable
3% Justifiable
78% Not justifiable
Views on same-sex marriage or other legal recognition
(Ipsos, April–May, 2021)
54% Support
26% Against
43% Support
25% Against
Views on same-sex couples' right to adopt
(Ipsos, April–May, 2021)
46% Agree
45% Disagree
39% Agree
44% Disagree
Opinion on same-sex couples as parents
(World Values Survey, 2017-2020)
23% Agree
40% Disagree
17% Agree
54% Disagree
"Should society accept homosexuality?"
(Pew Research Center, May–October, 2019)
44% Yes
53% No
25% Yes
57% No
Justifiability of homosexuality
(World Values Survey, 2010-2014)
7% Justifiable
58% Not justifiable
2% Justifiable
89% Not justifiable
"Should society accept homosexuality?"
(Pew Research Center, June, 2013)
39% Yes
59% No
9% Yes
78% No
Perceptions of local area as a "good place" for gay and lesbian people
(Gallup, 2013)
18% Good place
57% Not a good place
11% Good place
68% Not a good place
Full DetailsFull Details

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