Skip to content
  • Home
  • Medical Supplies
  • Medical Insurance
  • Healthy Lifestyle
  • Medical Treatment
  • Healthy Diet
  • Healthy Parenting
  • About Us
cdnaas

cdnaas

everything health

Gay South Korean couple lose equal coverage lawsuit against health insurer

Posted on January 10, 2022 By Sharika Soukup

1/5

Gay South Korean couple lose equal coverage lawsuit against health insurer

Same-sex partners So Seong-wook (L) and Kim Yong-min lost their lawsuit Friday against South Korea’s national health insurer over its withdrawal of spousal benefits from So. Photo by Thomas Maresca/UPI

SEOUL, Jan. 7 (UPI) — A Seoul court rejected a landmark lawsuit by a same-sex couple over shared health insurance benefits Friday, a ruling that advocates say highlights the challenges the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community faces in pursuing equal rights in South Korea.

The suit was filed last year by So Seong-wook against South Korea’s National Health Insurance Service after it withdrew his ability to receive spousal benefits under the employer of his longtime partner, Kim Yong-min.

South Korea does not recognize marriage or civil unions for same-sex couples, and the Seoul Administrative Court said Friday that it had no legal basis to expand the definition of marriage.

“The union of a man and woman is still considered the fundamental element of marriage, according to civil law, precedents of the Supreme Court and the Constitutional Court and the general perception of society,” the judgment said.

“Under the current legal system, it is difficult to evaluate the relationship between two people of the same sex as a common-law relationship,” it continued.

The plaintiffs had argued that the NHIS recognizes non-married couples such as common-law spouses. They said after the ruling that they would appeal the decision.

“Even though the court has left it as a matter for the legislative branch, we will continue to fight until the day that our relationship is recognized,” Kim told reporters outside the court. “I believe that love will eventually win.”

In February 2020, Kim, 31, was able to register So, 30, as his dependent with the National Health Insurance Service in what is believed to be the first such case in the country.

However, when a local magazine highlighted the couple’s story several months later, the NHIS abruptly canceled So’s dependent status.

The LGBT community in South Korea has long been seeking more rights and a higher profile in a country that remains deeply conservative on many social issues. In addition to a same-sex marriage ban, there are no anti-discrimination laws in place to protect sexual and gender minorities.

Advocates said Friday’s ruling was a missed opportunity for the court to move LGBT rights forward on the basis of equality under the Constitution.

“The court could have made a more meaningful decision on the case, but they are trying to avoid touching this issue,” Lee Jong-geol, general director of LGBT advocacy group Chingusai, told UPI after the verdict.

“But [the case] may help push the country to see that this is an unavoidable issue that we need to do something about,” he said.

Public attitudes toward the LGBT community have been shifting in South Korea in recent years, especially among the younger generation.

A 2020 global survey by Pew Research found that just 44% of South Koreans felt that homosexuality should be accepted, but that figure soared to 79% among 18-29 year-olds. The generation gap was wider than in any other country, the study said.

Despite the court’s decision, So said he believed South Korea was heading toward equality for all.

“We’re disappointed with the ruling,” he told UPI. “But society is changing. We will appeal the decision and keep working on it, and I hope that change will come even sooner.”

https://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2022/01/07/lgbt-same-sex-lawsuit-health-benefits-South-Korea/1201641560629/

Medical Treatment Tags:couple, Coverage, equal, Gay, Health, insurer, Korean, lawsuit, lose, South

Post navigation

Previous Post: Medical Aid Departed for Haiti, Six Other Countries Over Past Week
Next Post: 10 happy and healthy lifestyle practices for 2022 : The Tribune India

More Related Articles

Insurtech platform HealthCare.com banks $180M, boosts valuation to $1B Medical Treatment
Medica paid nearly $233 million for majority stake in Wisconsin health plan Medical Treatment
ECMO Availability by International Air Ambulance Providers in Bokaro With the Healthcare Faculties Medical Treatment
What to know about medical debt and health benefits as COVID persists Medical Treatment
Thyroid Gland Medical Supplies
Harmons will require unvaccinated workers to pay more for health insurance Medical Treatment

Recent Posts

  • Gains Of A Nutritious Lifestyle
  • An Insight Into the Distinctive Sectors of the Health care Market
  • Healthful Life Recommendations – How to Guide a Pleased Wholesome Existence
  • Clinical Billing Software program and HIPAA Guidelines in Tiny Clinical Place of work
  • 5 Positive aspects Of Choosing An Errand Running Services

Archives

  • September 2023
  • August 2023
  • July 2023
  • June 2023
  • May 2023
  • April 2023
  • March 2023
  • February 2023
  • January 2023
  • December 2022
  • November 2022
  • October 2022
  • September 2022
  • August 2022
  • July 2022
  • June 2022
  • May 2022
  • April 2022
  • March 2022
  • February 2022
  • January 2022
  • December 2021
  • November 2021
  • October 2021
  • September 2021

Copyright © 2023 cdnaas.

Powered by PressBook Green WordPress theme