Score = Legal 40/60 + Scene 12/40 = 52/100
South Korea ranks #67 of 208 countries and territories in the GayOut Gay Travel Index 2026, with a composite score of 52/100 — a legal safety component of 40/60 and a scene score of 12/40. Updated 2026-08-17 · release 2026.3.
| Criminalization | Legal |
|---|---|
| Partnership | ● No (marriage equality) |
| Anti-discrimination | ● No |
| Gender recognition | Legal route — recognition possible via medical or administrative process |
| Enforcement reality | Calm — no active persecution documented |
Research note: Supreme Court route; military-code caveat only — GayOut Index 2026.3 legal research (ILGA World / Human Dignity Trust / Rainbow Europe / Equaldex).
Fulfilment per component (100 = maximum). Weights: criminalisation 35% · partnership 20% · enforcement 20% · anti-discrimination 15% · gender recognition 10%.
| LGBTQ+ venues listed | 85 |
|---|---|
| Dedicated gay bars | 20 |
| Gay saunas | 7 |
| Gay bars per million | 0.39 |
| Saunas per million | 0.14 |
| Events per million | 0.66 |
| Cities with a scene | 4 |
| Pride parades | 1 |
| Queer film festivals | 2 |
| Coverage grade | A |
| Scene score | 12/40 (raw scene index 31/100) |
Explore 39 venues in South Korea
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85 venues tracked in the frozen 2026.3 dataset (all categories) · 39 browsable venue pages in the live directory today.
South Korea is rated Some caution on the GayOut Gay Travel Index 2026, scoring 52/100 overall with a legal safety component of 40/60. On enforcement reality, no active persecution is documented.
No. Same-sex marriage is not legal in South Korea. Overall legal status: Legal.
Yes. GayOut lists 85 LGBTQ+ venues in South Korea, including 20 dedicated gay bars, across 4 cities with a scene, and tracks 1 Pride parades there.
Seoul has the largest documented LGBTQ+ scene in South Korea, with 29 venues listed in the GayOut directory, followed by Daegu (5 venues).
GayOut currently lists 20 dedicated gay bars and 7 gay saunas in South Korea, and tracks 1 Pride parades there. Counts exclude venues that are merely gay-friendly.