LGBT Rights in South Korea

Homosexuality: ⚢
✔ Legal
Gay Marriage: ⚭
✖ Not legal
Censorship: Unknown
Changing Gender: ✔ Legal, surgery not required
Non-binary gender recognition: Unknown
Discrimination: ✖ No protections
Employment Discrimination: ✔ Sexual orientation and gender identity
Housing Discrimination: ✔ Sexual orientation and gender identity
Adoption: ✖ Illegal
Military: ✖ Illegal
Donating Blood: ✖ Banned (1-year deferral)
Conversion Therapy: ✖ Not banned
Age of Consent: ✔ Equal

Suggest Public Opinion Data

Public Opinion

Views on same-sex marriage or other legal recognition

Ranked #24 out of 27 regions surveyed. (Source: Ipsos, April–May, 2021)

(26%) Against

Support (54%)

Views on same-sex couples' right to adopt

Ranked #22 out of 27 regions surveyed. (Source: Ipsos, April–May, 2021)

(45%) Disagree

Agree (46%)

Acceptance of homosexuals as neighbors

Ranked #72 out of 79 regions surveyed. (Source: World Values Survey, 2017-2020)

Question: "On this list are various groups of people. Could you please mention any that you would not like to have as neighbors?"

(79.6%) Mentioned homosexuals

Did not mention homosexuals (20.4%)

Justifiability of homosexuality

Ranked #49 out of 79 regions surveyed. (Source: World Values Survey, 2017-2020)

Question: "Please tell me for each of the following statements whether you think it can always be justified, never be justified, or something in between."

(61.4%) Not justifiable

Justifiable (7.5%)

Opinion on same-sex couples as parents

Ranked #39 out of 74 regions surveyed. (Source: World Values Survey, 2017-2020)

Question: "Homosexual couples are as good parents as other couples"

(40%) Disagree

Agree (22.7%)

"Should society accept homosexuality?" (2019)

Ranked #24 out of 34 regions surveyed. (Source: Pew Research Center, May–October, 2019)

Question: "Should society accept homosexuality?"

(53%) No

Yes (44%)

"Should society accept homosexuality?" (2013)

Ranked #21 out of 39 regions surveyed. (Source: Pew Research Center, June, 2013)

Question: "Should society accept homosexuality?"

(59%) No

Yes (39%)

Perceived Acceptance of Gay People

Ranked #69 out of 119 regions surveyed. (Source: Gallup, 2013)

Question: "Is the city or area where you live a good place or not a good place for homosexuals?"

(57%) Not a good place

Good place (18%)

By The Numbers

15.85^%

of Koreans would feel comfortable with a family member that is a homosexual person

(Macromill Embrain, The Diplomat, 2019)

39.27^%

of Koreans would feel comfortable making friends with a homosexual person

(Macromill Embrain, The Diplomat, 2019)

45.12^%

of Koreans would be comfortable working with a homosexual person

(Macromill Embrain, The Diplomat, 2019)

10.15^%

of Koreans know a Korean LGBT person

74.15^%

do not

15.7^%

unsure

(Macromill Embrain, The Diplomat, 2019)

58^%

of Koreans oppose same-sex marriage

34^%

support same-sex marriage

8^%

undecided

(Gallup Korea, 2017)

90^%

of Koreans said they supported equal employment opportunities for LGBT people

(Gallup Korea, 2017)

History

Homosexual activity in South Korea

Homosexual activity in South Korea is legal.

Current status
Since Apr 22, 2003

Legal

Details · Accurate? Yes No

Until 2003

Ambiguous

personal actuvity is not illegal (no law). but no permission to incorporate LGBTI group

Details · Accurate? Yes No

Same-sex marriage in South Korea

Same-sex marriage in South Korea is not legal.

Current status
Since Aug 15, 1948

Not legal

There has been proposals to legalize gay marriage, but none have passed as of May 2022.

Details · Accurate? Yes No

Censorship of LGBT Issues in South Korea

Censorship of LGBT Issues in South Korea is unknown.

Current status

Unknown

Right to change legal gender in South Korea

Right to change legal gender in South Korea is legal, surgery not required.

Current status
Since Mar 22, 2013

Legal, surgery not required

Transgender persons are permitted to change their gender without having had sexual reassignment surgeries.

Details · Accurate? Yes No

Jun 22, 2006–Mar 22, 2013

Legal, but requires surgery

Transgender South Koreans are permitted to change their gender on all legal documents following gender reassignment surgery.

Details · Accurate? Yes No

Legal recognition of non-binary gender in South Korea

Legal recognition of non-binary gender in South Korea is unknown.

Current status

Unknown

LGBT discrimination in South Korea

LGBT discrimination in South Korea is no protections.

Current status
Since Aug 15, 1948

No protections

Date shown is the founding of the Republic of Korea (South Korea). There are no LGBT anti-discrimination protections in South Korea.

Details · Accurate? Yes No

LGBT employment discrimination in South Korea

LGBT employment discrimination in South Korea is sexual orientation and gender identity.

Current status
Since Jan 1, 2016

Sexual orientation and gender identity

Full discrimination protection including aggravated conditions since 2016.

Details · Accurate? Yes No

LGBT housing discrimination in South Korea

LGBT housing discrimination in South Korea is sexual orientation and gender identity.

Current status
Since Aug 15, 1948

Sexual orientation and gender identity

Full discrimination protections.

Details · Accurate? Yes No

Same-sex adoption in South Korea

Same-sex adoption in South Korea is illegal.

Current status
Since Aug 15, 1948

Illegal

No information about when adoption regulations went into effect. Date shown is when the Republic of Korea (South Korea) was founded.

Details · Accurate? Yes No

Aug 15, 1948–Sep 4, 2018

Married couples only

Legalization pending.

Details · Accurate? Yes No

Serving openly in military in South Korea

Serving openly in military in South Korea is illegal.

Current status
Since Aug 15, 1945

Illegal

Article 92 of the South Korean Military Code provides punishment for gay men in the South Korean Military including dishonorable discharge.

Details · Accurate? Yes No

Aug 15, 1945–Sep 7, 2018

Illegal

Military officials used gay dating and social apps to prosecute same sex couples under article 92. They prosecuted several gay couples. Ruled illegal by military court in 2010. legalization pending.

Details · Accurate? Yes No

Blood donations by MSMs in South Korea

Blood donations by MSMs in South Korea is banned (1-year deferral).

Current status

Banned (1-year deferral)

Details · Accurate? Yes No

Conversion therapy in South Korea

Conversion therapy in South Korea is not banned.

Current status

Not banned

Not criminalized anywhere in South Korea.

Details · Accurate? Yes No

Equal age of consent in South Korea

Equal age of consent in South Korea is equal.

Current status

Equal

Details · Accurate? Yes No

Equality Index ?

47 / 100

Legal Rights

58 / 100

Public Opinion

36 / 100

Interest Rank ?

Top Contributors

Ausyk 7 contributions
bradcoffey106 6 contributions
vviet93 1 contribution

Discussions

South Korea LGBT Organizations

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Is it illegal to be gay in South Korea?
Is homosexuality legal in South Korea?
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Alternative names: Taehan Min’guk (Namhan) (local name)

LGBT Rights in South Korea

Public Opinion

Views on same-sex marriage or other legal recognition

Views on same-sex couples' right to adopt

Acceptance of homosexuals as neighbors

Justifiability of homosexuality

Opinion on same-sex couples as parents

"Should society accept homosexuality?" (2019)

"Should society accept homosexuality?" (2013)

Perceived Acceptance of Gay People

By The Numbers

History

Homosexual activity in South Korea

Same-sex marriage in South Korea

Censorship of LGBT Issues in South Korea

Right to change legal gender in South Korea

Legal recognition of non-binary gender in South Korea

LGBT discrimination in South Korea

LGBT employment discrimination in South Korea

LGBT housing discrimination in South Korea

Same-sex adoption in South Korea

Serving openly in military in South Korea

Blood donations by MSMs in South Korea

Conversion therapy in South Korea

Equal age of consent in South Korea

Top Contributors

South Korea LGBT Organizations

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