South Korea recognizes same-sex couples in census for the first time

 

South Korea will recognize same-sex couples in its national census, marking a historic move by the government in recording household data.

The households headed by same-gender couples will now be able to select “spouse” and “cohabiting partner” on the Population and Housing Census, which takes place every five years.

This is the first step towards having LGBTQ citizens fully reflected in national data. In past surveys, couples of the same gender could not select ‘spouse’ even if they lived together as such, and the system would return an error.

Same-sex marriage is still not permitted under South Korean law. Despite gradual policy shifts, legal protections for LGBTQ people remain limited, and public opinion remains divided. 

This is a significant step toward legal equality and hopefully a potential precursor to marriage reform. 

It's time, South Korea!!