"Same-Sex Couples Should Be Granted Health Insurance Dependent Status" Administrative Lawsuit Filed

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Jung-yoon] A same-sex couple has filed an administrative lawsuit after one spouse was stripped of their qualification as a dependent under the health insurance system solely because they are of the same sex.

The Network for the Protection of Sexual Minority Family Members (GaguNet) held a press conference on the 18th in front of the Seoul Administrative Court, announcing that they have filed a lawsuit against the National Health Insurance Service requesting the cancellation of the health insurance premium imposition decision.

The plaintiff, So Seong-wook, has been cohabiting with Kim Yong-min, who is of the same sex, since 2017 and held a wedding ceremony in May 2019. Although their marriage is not legally recognized, So had been registered as a dependent under Kim’s workplace health insurance since February of last year. However, in October of the same year, the National Health Insurance Service converted So to a regional health insurance subscriber, stating that So did not meet the conditions for dependent recognition, and imposed insurance premiums.

So’s side argued, "Despite being in a de facto marital relationship, denying dependent status solely because the spouse is of the same sex contradicts the purpose of the dependent system," adding, "Current law grants various pension and insurance benefit rights to de facto spouses, and whether someone qualifies as a spouse should be judged according to the purpose of the system."

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