Current Version
| Region | North Korea |
| Issue | Right to change legal gender |
| Status | Ambiguous |
| Start Date | (unknown) |
| End Date | (none) |
| Description | While it is possible to make changes to the "SEX" mark on official documents in the DPRK, as it's said in the 16th article of the Citizen Registration Law, if it is accompanied by medical documentation, and the law on plastical surgery affirms that there are exceptions for cases in which a citizens might request a sex-change surgery, there is neither a documented case or evidence that this measures have been used by trans people to undergo any form of transition. |
| Sources | https://outrightinternational.org/our-work/asia/democratic-peoples-republic-korea https://namu.wiki/w/%EA%B3%B5%EB%AF%BC%EB%93%B1%EB%A1%9D%EB%B2%95 https://nk.chosun.com/bbs/view.html?idxno=545&sc_category= https://www.tongilnews.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=87770 https://www.nktechlab.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/240206-Plastic-Surgery-%EC%84%B1%ED%98%95%EC%99%B8%EA%B3%BC%EC%B9%98%EB%A3%8C%EB%B2%95-_ENG.pdf |
Revision History (9)
| Old Value | New Value (Current) | |
|---|---|---|
| Value | Illegal | (REMOVED) |
| Special Status | Illegal | Ambiguous |
edited by Punxy2008. Tried to resolve an argument that erupted into the log, also tried to make the entry more accurate
Helpful?
0 | Old Value | New Value | |
|---|---|---|
| Description | Legal gender recognition is not possible in North Korea. | While it is possible to make changes to the "SEX" mark on official documents in the DPRK, as it's said in the 16th article of the Citizen Registration Law, if it is accompanied by medical documentation, and the law on plastical surgery affirms that there are exceptions for cases in which a citizens might request a sex-change surgery, there is neither a documented case or evidence that this measures have been used by trans people to undergo any form of transition. |
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| Sources | https://outrightinternational.org/our-work/asia/democratic-peoples-republic-korea | https://outrightinternational.org/our-work/asia/democratic-peoples-republic-korea https://namu.wiki/w/%EA%B3%B5%EB%AF%BC%EB%93%B1%EB%A1%9D%EB%B2%95 https://nk.chosun.com/bbs/view.html?idxno=545&sc_category= https://www.tongilnews.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=87770 https://www.nktechlab.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/240206-Plastic-Surgery-%EC%84%B1%ED%98%95%EC%99%B8%EA%B3%BC%EC%B9%98%EB%A3%8C%EB%B2%95-_ENG.pdf |
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edited by DaisyGeekyTrans. Reverting to revision #63549: Again, none of the sources you posted prove your claim.
Helpful?
-1 | Old Value | New Value | |
|---|---|---|
| Value | Legal, but requires surgery | Illegal |
| Start Date | Nov 26, 1997 | (unknown) |
| Description | The legal framework for gender marker changes in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea was formally established with the enactment of the Citizen Registration Law. Article 16 of this legislation dictates that while arbitrarily modifying the name, sex, date of birth, or place of birth registered on birth certificates, citizen cards, or Pyongyang citizen cards is generally prohibited, an explicit statutory exception exists for "unavoidable circumstances." To initiate a gender marker change, an individual must submit a formal application for a status alteration to the People's Security Agency, which holds the absolute authority to review and approve or reject the request. Crucially, the statute explicitly mandates that in cases specifically involving a change of sex, the process cannot be solely administrative; the agency must refer the case to a state forensic medical evaluation institution for a mandatory official assessment. This proves that a statutory pathway for legal gender recognition exists and is codified in North Korean law, provided the applicant successfully passes the mandatory forensic medical evaluation and secures direct authorization from the state security apparatus. | Legal gender recognition is not possible in North Korea. |
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| Sources | https://namu.wiki/w/%EA%B3%B5%EB%AF%BC%EB%93%B1%EB%A1%9D%EB%B2%95 https://nk.chosun.com/bbs/view.html?idxno=545&sc_category= https://www.tongilnews.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=87770 | https://outrightinternational.org/our-work/asia/democratic-peoples-republic-korea |
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edited by EqLawyer. Reverting unjustified edits based on personal bias, restoring well-sourced and objective content.
Helpful?
-1 | Old Value | New Value | |
|---|---|---|
| Value | Illegal | Legal, but requires surgery |
| Start Date | (unknown) | Nov 26, 1997 |
| Description | Legal gender recognition is not possible in North Korea. | The legal framework for gender marker changes in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea was formally established with the enactment of the Citizen Registration Law. Article 16 of this legislation dictates that while arbitrarily modifying the name, sex, date of birth, or place of birth registered on birth certificates, citizen cards, or Pyongyang citizen cards is generally prohibited, an explicit statutory exception exists for "unavoidable circumstances." To initiate a gender marker change, an individual must submit a formal application for a status alteration to the People's Security Agency, which holds the absolute authority to review and approve or reject the request. Crucially, the statute explicitly mandates that in cases specifically involving a change of sex, the process cannot be solely administrative; the agency must refer the case to a state forensic medical evaluation institution for a mandatory official assessment. This proves that a statutory pathway for legal gender recognition exists and is codified in North Korean law, provided the applicant successfully passes the mandatory forensic medical evaluation and secures direct authorization from the state security apparatus. |
Show Difference | ||
| Sources | https://outrightinternational.org/our-work/asia/democratic-peoples-republic-korea | https://namu.wiki/w/%EA%B3%B5%EB%AF%BC%EB%93%B1%EB%A1%9D%EB%B2%95 https://nk.chosun.com/bbs/view.html?idxno=545&sc_category= https://www.tongilnews.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=87770 |
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edited by DaisyGeekyTrans. Reverting to revision #60891: I've read all of those sources and not one suggests that legal gender recognition is mandated (in fact, it's even stated to be prohibited). While it has said "unavoidable circumstances", this does not translate into letting trans people do it and might just be for typos on birth registrations. Absolutely nowhere is surgery or change in sex mentioned.
Helpful?
0 | Old Value | New Value | |
|---|---|---|
| Value | Legal, but requires surgery | Illegal |
| Start Date | Nov 26, 1997 | (unknown) |
| Description | The legal framework for gender marker changes in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea was formally established with the enactment of the Citizen Registration Law. Article 16 of this legislation dictates that while arbitrarily modifying the name, sex, date of birth, or place of birth registered on birth certificates, citizen cards, or Pyongyang citizen cards is generally prohibited, an explicit statutory exception exists for "unavoidable circumstances." To initiate a gender marker change, an individual must submit a formal application for a status alteration to the People's Security Agency, which holds the absolute authority to review and approve or reject the request. Crucially, the statute explicitly mandates that in cases specifically involving a change of sex, the process cannot be solely administrative; the agency must refer the case to a state forensic medical evaluation institution for a mandatory official assessment. This proves that a statutory pathway for legal gender recognition exists and is codified in North Korean law, provided the applicant successfully passes the mandatory forensic medical evaluation and secures direct authorization from the state security apparatus. | Legal gender recognition is not possible in North Korea. |
Show Difference | ||
| Sources | https://namu.wiki/w/%EA%B3%B5%EB%AF%BC%EB%93%B1%EB%A1%9D%EB%B2%95 https://nk.chosun.com/bbs/view.html?idxno=545&sc_category= https://www.tongilnews.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=87770 | https://outrightinternational.org/our-work/asia/democratic-peoples-republic-korea |
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edited by EqLawyer. this sounds like a requirement for surgery, as the administrative body expects a comprehensive evaluation by a forensic physician.
Helpful?
0 | Old Value | New Value | |
|---|---|---|
| Value | (REMOVED) | Legal, but requires surgery |
| Special Status | Ambiguous | Legal, but requires surgery |
edited by HuyenTrans. It doesn't sound like require surgery.
Helpful?
0 | Old Value | New Value | |
|---|---|---|
| Value | Legal, but requires surgery | (REMOVED) |
| Special Status | Legal, but requires surgery | Ambiguous |
| Old Value (Original) | New Value | |
|---|---|---|
| Value | Illegal | Legal, but requires surgery |
| Start Date | (unknown) | Nov 26, 1997 |
| Description | Legal gender recognition is not possible in North Korea. | The legal framework for gender marker changes in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea was formally established with the enactment of the Citizen Registration Law. Article 16 of this legislation dictates that while arbitrarily modifying the name, sex, date of birth, or place of birth registered on birth certificates, citizen cards, or Pyongyang citizen cards is generally prohibited, an explicit statutory exception exists for "unavoidable circumstances." To initiate a gender marker change, an individual must submit a formal application for a status alteration to the People's Security Agency, which holds the absolute authority to review and approve or reject the request. Crucially, the statute explicitly mandates that in cases specifically involving a change of sex, the process cannot be solely administrative; the agency must refer the case to a state forensic medical evaluation institution for a mandatory official assessment. This proves that a statutory pathway for legal gender recognition exists and is codified in North Korean law, provided the applicant successfully passes the mandatory forensic medical evaluation and secures direct authorization from the state security apparatus. |
Show Difference | ||
| Sources | https://outrightinternational.org/our-work/asia/democratic-peoples-republic-korea | https://namu.wiki/w/%EA%B3%B5%EB%AF%BC%EB%93%B1%EB%A1%9D%EB%B2%95 https://nk.chosun.com/bbs/view.html?idxno=545&sc_category= https://www.tongilnews.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=87770 |
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