Lawmakers in South Korea have proposed the country’s first same-sex marriage bill, in a move hailed by civic groups as a defining moment in the fight for equality, reported The Guardian.
The marriage equality bill is proposed by Jang Hye-yeong of the minor opposition Justice party and co-sponsored by 12 lawmakers from all the main parties. The bill seeks to amend the country’s civil code to include persons of the same sex in marriage.
The bill is a part of a trio of bills. The two other bills relate to civil unions and IVF for unmarried women.
South Korea does not recognise civil same-sex partnerships but the constitution stipulates that marriage and family shall be established on the basis of individual dignity and equality of the sexes.
“It’s a historic moment, but this is just the start,” Ryu Min-hee, a lawyer at the Marriage Equality Korea civic group was quoted by the Guardian as saying. He also said that the bills must be discussed by the National Assembly immediately.
Wednesday’s announcement follows a landmark ruling in February that recognised the legal status of same-sex couples for the first time in terms of national health insurance.
South Korea is facing an impending demographic crisis, including a world-record low birthrate. Moves to broaden the definition to include cohabiting couples or single-member families were reversed under the current administration of President Yoon Suk-yeol.
Social consensus is often stated by politicians as the reasons for opposing equality laws, including same-sex marriage. According to a Hankook Research survey, 52% of respondents opposed the idea of legislating same-sex marriage in South Korea.
In February, a South Korean court ruled that same-sex couples are entitled to the same spousal coverage as heterosexual couples under the national health insurance service. This marked the first legal recognition of same-sex couples in South Korea.