South Korea’s national census will, for the first time, allow same‑sex couples to identify themselves as “spouse” or “cohabiting partner,” marking a historic step toward inclusion for the country’s LGBTQ+ community.
The change was confirmed by the Ministry of Data and Statistics on Oct. 21 as the country prepares to launch its next Population and Housing Census, which is conducted every five years. Under the new rules, households headed by same‑gender couples can select the options “spouse” or “cohabiting partner” without triggering an error message. For decades, systems automatically flagged or rejected those responses.
Advocacy groups hailed the shift as overdue recognition. The Rainbow Action Korea, a coalition of 49 LGBTQ+ organizations, said that in previous surveys, couples of the same gender “could not select ‘spouse’ even if they lived together as such. The system would return an error.” While the update does not alter the legal status of same‑sex relationships, it represents a rare form of official visibility for couples who have long been excluded.
A Significant but Incremental Reform
Same‑sex marriages and civil partnerships remain illegal in South Korea, and legal protections for LGBTQ+ people are limited. While a 2023 court ruling ordered the National Health Insurance Service to extend dependent benefits to a same‑sex partner, adoption rights remain restricted, and openly serving in the military as a same‑sex couple is not permitted.
Still, the inclusion of same‑gender relationship options in the next census signals a change in how the state collects data and recognizes diverse family structures.
Why Census Recognition Matters
Census data underpin housing policy, welfare planning and social services. When same‑sex couples are officially counted, it helps ensure their lived realities are recognized in policy‑making. By contrast, exclusion from household categories means their needs can remain invisible.
The launch of the new options means that same‑gender couples living together can now choose language that mirrors their lived relationships. The change may also provide activists and researchers with more accurate data over time about LGBTQ+ households and the full tapestry of modern Korean life.
Still Much to Be Done
Despite the milestone, many activists caution that recognition on paper is only a first step. Legal protections remain weak; there is no national law outlawing discrimination based on sexual orientation, and many same‑sex couples still face exclusion in areas such as medical decision‑making, reproductive rights and inheritance.
Public opinion remains mixed. Surveys this year found that while more than half of young Koreans accept cohabitation and diverse households, only about one‑third support same‑sex marriage. Conservatives, particularly religious groups, continue to voice opposition to expanding LGBTQ+ rights.
Rainbow Action Korea praised the census change but criticised the government for limited public outreach, warning that low awareness may reduce participation among couples who might want to select the new options.
