South Korea Court Grants State Benefits To Gay Couples In Landmark Ruling

South Korea's supreme court on Thursday upheld a ruling that a same-sex partner was eligible for spousal benefits from state health insurance, a move hailed as a win for LGBTQ rights in a country that has lagged others in the region.

The court confirmed a landmark decision by the Seoul High Court early last year that the National Health Insurance Service should provide equal spousal coverage to So Sung-wook and Kim Yong-min - a gay couple who filed a suit in 2021 against the agency after it cancelled their spousal benefits.

"I couldn't believe when I heard the ruling. I was extremely happy and I started crying," Kim told Reuters outside the court.