Gay couple So Seong-wook, left, and Kim Yong-min, leave the Supreme Court holding rainbow umbrellas in Seocho District, Seoul, Thursday. Yonhap

Korea’s Supreme Court recognized new rights for same-sex couples Thursday, saying the state must provide health insurance for a gay man’s partner in a landmark ruling that left activists weeping for joy.

“National Health Insurance should recognize spousal insurance coverage for same-sex couples,” the court ruled, with activists breaking into cheers as the verdict was read out.

The verdict, which cannot be appealed as it comes from the country’s highest court, means common-law spouses of the same sex can now register as dependents on their 스포츠 partners’ health insurance.

“It is discrimination based on sexual orientation to exclude the couple just because they are same-sex,” the court ruled.

“It is a discriminatory act that violates human dignity and values, the right to pursue happiness, freedom of privacy, and the right to be equal before the law, and the degree of infringement is serious.”

The case was brought by a gay couple, So Seong-wook and Kim Yong-min, who live together and held a wedding ceremony in 2019.

It had no legal validity, however, as Korea does not recognize same-sex marriage.

In 2021, So sued the National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) because it terminated benefits for his partner — whom he had registered as a dependent — after discovering they were a gay couple

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