The Facts

• The Supreme Court of South Korea ruled Thursday that same-sex couples are entitled to the same dependent coverage through the national health insurance program as straight couples. South Korea does not recognize same-sex marriage.

• The court called the denial of benefits to the couple "discrimination," and ruled that the insurance provider is required to extend coverage to "same-sex partners who have formed an economic community of life similar to a married couple."

• The same-sex couple of So Sung-wook and Kim Yong-min filed a suit in 2021 against the National Health Insurance Service after their spousal benefits were cancelled. The court rejected the claims that the two were a common-law couple, while still qualifying for benefits in an arrangement "tantamount" to marriage.