Fight for recognition of same-sex marriage reaches Korea's most conservative regions

Members of Ulsan Solidarity for Human Rights and the Rainbow Action for Korea’s LGBTQ Rights hold a press conference in front of the Ulsan Family Court on Wednesday, calling for legal recognition of a same-sex marriage involving a couple in their 20s from the region. - Photo: Ulsan Solidarity for Human Rights

SEOUL: A legal battle seeking recognition of same-sex marriage expanded into South Korea’s southeastern region on Wednesday (April 8), as couples in Daegu, Busan and Ulsan simultaneously filed lawsuits against local governments’ refusals to process their marriage registrations.

The move marks the first time such lawsuits have been filed outside the greater Seoul area, where similar cases began gaining traction in 2024.