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7 Jul 2015

Gay couple sue for recognition in South Korea

Famous gay couple in socially conservative South Korea suing officials for refusing to recognize their 2013 same-sex marriage.

Buoyed by the landmark US Supreme Court ruling a celebrity couple, Kim Jho Gwang-Soo (a rare openly gay celebrity) and his partner Kim Seung-Hwan, fought for legitimacy on Monday when they took their case to the district court in Seoul.

The couple are arguing that although they submitted their marriage registration to their local authority in 2013, it was rejected. Kim argued that "If you are a Korean citizen, you are equal under Korean law."

"I hope through this trial we can uncover this constitutional principle," Kim said, adding that he had pleaded with the court to "acknowledge our marriage before I die."

While homosexuality may not be illegal in the country, same-sex marriage is not recognized and LGBT people are victims of a deeply conservative society.

The lawsuit comes after Seoul's pride parade took place on June 28 and saw at least 6000 march in the South Korean capital.

Reader's Comments

1. 2015-07-08 08:01  
Freedom is so very important to each and every person on this earth. Freedom to follow whatever beliefs they have, to be who they are, to do whatever they wish … as long as throughout this pursuit of freedom they do NO harm to another.
Surely that must be what living Life is all about !!!
2. 2015-07-09 00:00  
3. 2015-07-09 00:01  
I commend this couple for challenging the system....(broken as it is). It takes guts.
4. 2015-07-09 01:33  
Good for them. Nothing comes to us homos without a fight. USA and other places took so many decades of bitter fighting....and so many more to come. It's not over. So to all the Asians...step up and take your rights. No one, ever, will just hand them to you freely. TAKE them. Of be a slave. Up to you.
5. 2015-07-09 03:00  
I'm not up on how the government is elected in south Korea but if they have been democratically elected then these guys can't sue.

Forcing change always rebounds dangerously. Gradual progressive change is key.

Campaign for change by all means but if it's not fast coming you can't stamp your feet and demand it.

6. 2015-07-10 01:36  
"Gradual progressive change is the key" and you can't sue a democratic government? What planet are you on? Have you not noticed USA now has national gay marriage...as the result of the government being sued? There has never been any gay right bestowed through "gradual progressive change". Not one. Every single thing gays have today, is through "stamping feet" and suing.
7. 2015-07-10 03:36  
I'm firmly on planet Earth. Where are you?

I guess the supreme court vote never happened on your planet.

It's a shame the usa citizens don't sue over lax gun laws.

I'm so so so glad I live in the UK.
8. 2015-07-10 08:23  
The supreme COURT was due to a lawsuit. How you get you can't sue a democratic government is beyond me. Every gay right that exists in the USA can be traced to some lawsuit against a government entity, or "stomping of feet". Not a one came from slow progressive change. Same for women's rights, blacks, ect ect. Nothing is given out free by the majority to a suppressed minority. It must be taken by force of law. And often by letting of much blood. Recommending that gays in Asia (or anywhere else) just wait for slow progressive change is just saying get in that closet and shut up. Which is where they will remain for eternity without someone forcing the majority to change, against the majority's will.
9. 2015-07-10 09:35  
Well done.
10. 2015-07-11 01:54  
For your education edsmale:
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBT_history_in_the_United_States

Slow progress.

Yes blood has been shed. Could it have been avoided? Yes.

Be very careful about championing minority groups.

Education and consensus are the key issues to pursue.
11. 2015-07-11 12:08  
Could everyone please stop arguing with GTilad. If you read his post he is a nutcase or just a troll and/or offering a sight gag for what an ass you are? :)
12. 2015-07-11 14:48  
Is the truth so inconvenient?

13. 2015-07-11 16:20  
well done guys keep going with getting your rights good luck
14. 2015-07-11 21:14  
Good for them. It's sad that such an otherwise advanced country is so retrograde in its attitudes towards GLBT people. Lots of crazy conservative Christians are obviously a big part of the problem. I'm no expert on the Korean constitution, but perhaps the recent ruling that allowed the Pride march to go forward is a glimmer of hope.
15. 2015-07-13 05:41  
No no no!

You have to shout CRAZY!!!!! Blowing a whistle makes this more effective also.

Having zero understanding of the opposing side is key.

Good luck :-)
16. 2015-07-14 11:41  
If one is to believe that 'stamping ones feet & making a noise is NOT the way to get some action on some of these issues one has only to look at the history of the French Revolution.
On the of July 14th 1759 less than 1000 people stormed the Bastille in Paris and overthrew the French Monarchy and gave France Freedom and democracy. Not bad for a bit of 'noise and foot stamping' eh?
17. 2015-07-14 14:33  
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_Revolution

Not quite as simple as you made out.

Replacing the king with Napoleon was hardly progress. And today they have hollande, another Napoleon :-).

The French revolution stifled science and engineering in France for many years.

Pick a different example where mindless action is shown to improve the situation. Preferably with no loss of life.
Comment #18 was deleted by an administrator on 2015-07-15 18:35
19. 2015-07-15 02:18  
Interesting tidbit: economically S Korea is a powerhouse (and I think few would argue with that fact), but culturally, it is considered 'third-world' by many expats.
Comment edited on 2015-07-16 14:15:15
20. 2015-07-15 02:22  
Bravo to the gay community in S Korea, incl the couple mentioned here of course. In fact, all the more so when viewed in context with the challenging environment there. Here's wishing them the best.
Comment edited on 2015-07-15 12:13:20
21. 2015-07-15 03:51  
Personal attacks huh?

I guess you were bullied at school. You didn't learn the lesson I see.

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