South Korea

Demographics

Estimated Total Population:

51.6 million

World Bank, 2018

Estimated SGM Population:

N/A

Estimated Total SGM Adult Population:

N/A

Estimated % of SGM Adults (18+):

N/A

South Korea does not have any “nationally representative survey that includes a survey question on self-identification as heterosexual, homosexual, or bisexual, nor does it collect information on the share of transgender people among the adult population”as of 2019. Thus, there is a lack of statistical records on estimated SGM population in South Korea. Despite attitudinal changes and certain protections for sexual and gender minorities, the rate of coming out is only 13.5% in South Korea, much lower than that of other countries (Cho, B. & Sohn, A., 2016). There are, however, some estimates finding approximately 200,000 transgender individuals living in South Korea (Lee, H., Operario, D., et. al, 2020).

South Korea's Laws and Policies from ILGA World Report (2019)

RECOGNITION

Marriage for Same-Sex Couples	No
Civil Unions	No
Joint Adoption	No
Second Parent Adoption	No

PROTECTION

Employment Nondiscrimination Laws	Yes
Broad Protections	Yes
Criminalization of Violence	No
Ban of Conversion Therapy	No

CRIMINALIZATION

Consensual Same-Sex Acts are Legal?	Yes
Gender	Does Not Apply
Max Penalty (Yrs in Prison)	Does Not Apply

Selected Published Studies, Reports, and Other Documents

Cho, B., & Sohn, A.(2016). How do Sexual Identity, and Coming Out Affect Stress, Depression, and Suicidal Ideation an Attempts Among Men Who Have Sex with Men in South Korea? Osong Public Health and Research Perspectives, 7(5), 281-288. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.phrp.2016.09.001

Lee, H., Operario, D., van den Berg, J. J., Yi, H., Choo, S., & Kim, S. S. (2020). Health Disparities Among Transgender Adults in South Korea. Asia-Pacific Journal ofPublic Health, 32(2-3), 103–110. https://doi.org/10.1177/1010539520912594

Lee, H., Operario, D., Yi, H., Choo, S. & Kim, S. (2019). Internalized Homophobia, Depressive Symptoms, and Suicidal Ideation Among Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Adults in South Korea: An Age-Stratified Analysis. LGBT Health, 6(8), 393-399. http://doi.org/10.1089/lgbt.2019.0108

Sohn, A., Cho, B., & Kennedy, H. A. (2015). Identifying Barriers to Human Immunodeficiency Virus Testing for Men Who Have Sex with Men in South Korea. Osong Public Health and Research Perspectives, 6(3), 192–200. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.phrp.2015.06.003

Studies on Societal Perception of SGM Individuals:

Rich, T.S. (2016). Religion and Public Perceptions of Gays and Lesbians in South Korea. Journal of Homosexuality, 64(5), 606-621. https://doi.org/10.1080/00918369.2016.1194122

Phillips, J., & Yi, J. (2019). Queer Communities and Activism in South Korea: Periphery-Center Currents. Journal of Homosexuality. https://doi.org/10.1080/00918369.2019.1616432

Youn, G. (2017). Attitudinal Changes Towards Homosexuality During the Past Two Decades (1994-2014) in South Korea. Journal of Homosexuality, 65(1), 100-116. https://doi.org/10.1080/00918369.2017.1310512