LGBTQ+ in South Korea and Learning Opportunities from Taiwan

LGBTQ+ individuals in South Korea are currently navigating a landscape of legal advancement and symbolic administrative progress, contrasted with persistent legislative stalemate and deep-seated cultural conservatism. The Supreme Court’s decision in 2024 that same-sex partners are entitled to spousal health insurance benefits and the national agreement in 2025 that permits same-sex couples living together to identify as “spouse” or “cohabiting partner” are examples of recent progress in the country’s efforts to enhance the rights of its LGBTQ+ community. While earlier reforms should have boosted momentum for further discussion on gender and sexual equality, the current political climate has stagnated, marked by a sharp ideological divide and a persistent “not yet” argument among politicians, claiming a lack of social consensus to indefinitely delay progress on comprehensive equality laws.

International human rights and civil society organizations contend that South Korea’s stalled LGBTQ+ rights record challenges its status as a mature democracy, as well as placing the country at a crossroads in its human rights trajectory. As a result, while South Korea is regarded as a developed democracy, its legislative safeguards for LGBTQ+ individuals are among the most stringent in the OECD, with the country consistently ranking around the bottom of related human rights indices. It is also one of just two OECD countries that lacks a comprehensive anti-discrimination statute, a gap that arguably undermines the basic democratic ideal of equality before the law.

With Taiwan becoming the first entity in Asia to pass significant anti-discrimination laws and legalize same-sex marriages back in 2019, Seoul could gain valuable insights by learning from Taipei’s past experiences. While both are advanced democracies and share similar cultural backgrounds, characterized by a shared Confucian heritage, Taiwan has established national frameworks for marriage, adoption, and non-discrimination legislation for its LGBTQ+ community. Following Taiwan’s progressive LGBTQ+ legislation, it has become a regional beacon, strengthened its international reputation as a liberal democracy, and triggered significant social, economic, and political transformations.

In celebration of Pride Month, ISDP’s Korea and Taiwan Center, with the support of Macoll Consulting Group, cordially invites you to a one-hour webinar with the primary goal of identifying tangible policy proposals for how to promote the rights of LGBTQ+ people in South Korea. To do this, the existing political and legislative landscapes in South Korea and Taiwan will be highlighted, along with potential hurdles and obstacles.

The webinar will be recorded and made available on ISDP’s YouTube channel and will be followed by a short report, available in English and Korean, outlining the key takeaways. It will later be made available on ISDP’s website.

Speakers:

Horim Yi is the Co-Executive Director of Rainbow Action Korea, a nationwide coalition of LGBTQ+ organizations in South Korea. She is also the Executive Director of Marriage for All Korea, a campaign initiative led by Rainbow Action Korea that advances marriage equality through strategic litigation, legislative advocacy, and public engagement. With a Ph.D. in Public Health and more than a decade of grassroots activism, she combines research expertise with coalition leadership. She also takes part in international and regional advocacy to strengthen solidarity for LGBTQ+ rights and equality.

Joyce Teng has long been engaged in gender equality advocacy. She currently serves a Board Member of ILGA Asia (the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association – Asia). Joyce holds a Master of Laws (LL.M.) from National Taiwan University. From 2013 to 2015, she worked as a legislative assistant in Taiwan’s Parliament, gaining solid experience in law and policy-making. She later joined civil society, where she played a key role in advancing marriage equality and gender-inclusive policies, including coordinating amicus briefs for the constitutional court, shaping public messaging during the referendum campaigns, and lobbying for the passage of the same-sex marriage law. After the law was passed in 2019, she continued her work at the Taiwan Equality Campaign, promoting inclusive policies, legal reforms, and LGBTI+ political participation. She became the organization’s Executive Director in December 2022, leading its advocacy and international partnerships.

In June 2025, Joyce passed the leadership to her colleagues and continues to serve as ILGA Asia Board Member, remaining deeply committed to advancing human rights in Taiwan and across Asia.

Keynote speaker: 

Jayoung Son is a Senior Associate at Macoll Consulting Group, where she advises global corporations and non-profit clients on public affairs, advocacy, and government relations in Korea. Her portfolio spans gender, global health and animal rights — areas in which she has supported mission-driven organizations in engaging policymakers, building coalitions and translating international norms into domestic policy traction.

Prior to joining Macoll, Jayoung served as a Program Officer at the ASEAN-Korea Centre, promoting trade and investment ties between Korea and ASEAN member states. She holds a dual bachelor’s degree in German and International Studies from Korea University.

Moderator: Josephine Ørgaard Rasmussen, Project Manager, Stockholm Korea Center