Seoul: South Korean couple Kim Eun-ha and Park Cho-hyeon dream of marriage and children, aligning with government efforts to combat the world’s lowest fertility rate. However, same-sex unions remain illegal in South Korea, and medical professionals refuse artificial insemination to women without male partners, citing ethical guidelines.
“A lot of single people and lesbian couples around me want to have children. If the various types of families who can have children are accepted first, I think it will contribute a lot to the fertility rate,” Kim Eun-ha told, as reported by the international news agency Reuters.
While neighboring Taiwan and Thailand have legalized same-sex marriage, South Korea offers no legal recognition of LGBT partnerships, prompting many couples to seek marriage and parenting opportunities abroad.
The annual Seoul Queer Culture Festival faces staunch opposition from conservative religious groups resisting anti-discrimination laws. Kim Ji-hak of Diversity Korea believes embracing diversity is crucial for addressing the population decline.
Despite government initiatives and significant spending to reverse declining birth rates, South Korea’s population continued to decrease in 2023, driven by concerns over career advancement and child-rearing costs.
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“If we become a society where people don’t have to worry about healthcare, education, labour and ageing, everyone will want to have more children,” Kim stated.
While progress has been made, such as a court ruling on health coverage for a gay couple, obstacles persist. Doctors still refuse artificial insemination for single women and same-sex couples, adhering to guidelines from the Korean Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology, despite recommendations for revision by the National Human Rights Commission of Korea in 2022.
For Kim Eun-ha and Park, lack of legal recognition for their relationship remains the primary barrier to starting a family in South Korea. They plan to marry in Australia, despite non-recognition by their home country, before considering parenthood.
“I think the only way to start solving everything from raising children, healthcare to housing is to recognize marriage for same-sex couples. It’s only when this form of love is acknowledged, everything else becomes possible,” Kim Eun-ha emphasized.
