Gay Corea del Sur

Same-sex partnerships are recognised in Corea del Sur, though full marriage may still be pending. The Legal Status panel above has the current position. South Korea has never criminalised same-sex relations between civilians, but Article 92-6 of the Military Criminal Act punishes 'indecent acts' between servicemen with up to two years; in 2022 the Supreme Court limited it to on-base conduct and in October 2023 the Constitutional Court upheld it anyway. There is no recognition of same-sex couples, no joint adoption and no national anti-discrimination law, a bill that has failed in every Assembly since 2007. The one breakthrough came in July 2024, when the Supreme Court ruled that a same-sex partner is entitled to spousal coverage under national health insurance, the first legal recognition of a same-sex couple's rights. Legal gender change is available through the courts, since 2022 even for people with minor children, though surgery is still generally expected. The Seoul Queer Culture Festival has drawn up to 150,000 people but has been pushed out of City Hall Plaza since 2023 in favour of Christian counter-events, and polls show support for same-sex marriage slipping to about a third, with a steep generational divide. Itaewon's 'Homo Hill' and Jongno's hundreds of small bars make Seoul a comfortable city for visitors; Busan and Daegu have smaller scenes.

The cities listed on this page have the most active LGBTQ+ scenes in Corea del Sur, typically anchored by the capital and the largest tourist cities. Each city page links to verified LGBTQ+ venues and upcoming events.

Yes — gay-friendly and gay-popular hotels are listed on each city page in Corea del Sur. International chains in central districts are reliably welcoming; independent boutique options are flagged where the community has verified them.

Pride events take place in Corea del Sur — check the events calendar on this site and each city page for the current year's dates.