South Korea’s Ministry of Data and Statistics has made a historic change to the 2025 Population and Housing Census, allowing same-sex couples to be officially counted for the first time. Conducted between October 22 and November 18, the updated census recognizes same-sex relationships of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people in national statistics—an unprecedented step toward greater inclusion and equality.
Human Rights Watch welcomed the move as a significant advancement for LGBT rights in South Korea. Lina Yoon, a senior researcher at the organization, praised the government’s decision, calling it an “important step” and urged the authorities to continue progress by enacting a comprehensive anti-discrimination law and legalizing same-sex marriage.
For the first time, South Korea’s digital census system will allow individuals in same-sex relationships to list their partners as “spouses” or “cohabiting partners.” Previously, the system rejected such designations, forcing couples to register as “unspecified cohabitants.” Despite this progress, same-sex marriage and partnerships remain unrecognized under South Korean law, leaving couples without legal protections in areas such as inheritance, taxation, and family rights. A 2024 Supreme Court ruling, however, marked a turning point by affirming the right of same-sex partners to claim spousal benefits under the national health insurance system.
Following the announcement, the Data and Statistics Ministry faced backlash from anti-LGBT groups but clarified that the change was not intended to specifically collect LGBT data, rather to improve accuracy by removing discriminatory input restrictions. Nonetheless, activists expressed concern that the lack of public awareness could lead to underreporting. In response, LGBT organizations have launched outreach campaigns to inform communities about the new option and encourage participation.
Human Rights Watch emphasized that collecting data on marginalized groups is essential for evidence-based policymaking, improving visibility, and addressing inequality. The organization urged the government to ensure widespread awareness of the new census options, publish data on same-sex couples, and include questions on sexual orientation and gender identity in future censuses.
The decision to count same-sex couples in the national census marks a major human rights milestone for South Korea. However, advocates stress that this step must be followed by broader legislative and policy reforms to guarantee equal rights and protections for all LGBT people across the country.
