Kaesong is governed by federal North Korea law. Learn more
- Homosexuality
- ⚢✔ Legal
- Gay Marriage
- ⚭✖ Banned
- Censorship
- ✖ State-enforced
- Changing Gender
- ✖ Illegal
- Gender-Affirming Care
- Unknown
- Non-Binary Gender Recognition
- ✖ Not legally recognized
- Discrimination
- ✖ No protections
- Employment Discrimination
- ✖ No protections
- Housing Discrimination
- Unknown
- Adoption
- ✖ Illegal
- Intersex Infant Surgery
- Unknown
- Military
- Ambiguous
- Donating Blood
- Unknown
- Conversion Therapy
- Unknown
- Age of Consent
- ✔ Equal
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Public Opinion
Kaesong is lacking public opinion data.
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Homosexual activity in Kaesong is legal.
Current status
Legal
There are no specific laws in North Korea that criminalize homosexuality.
There are, however, claims that it is de facto illegal. An example of this claim is that in September of 2011, it was reported by Free North Korea Radio that North Korea executed a lesbian couple for being influenced by capitalism and bringing corruption of public morals.
There are, however, claims that it is de facto illegal. An example of this claim is that in September of 2011, it was reported by Free North Korea Radio that North Korea executed a lesbian couple for being influenced by capitalism and bringing corruption of public morals.
Same-sex marriage in Kaesong is banned.
Current status
Since Oct 24, 1990
Banned
Marriage in North Korea is defined as between a man and a woman. Article 8 of the Family Law of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea states “Marriage may be done only between one man and one woman.”
Censorship of LGBT issues in Kaesong is state-enforced.
Current status
Since Sep 14, 1948
State-enforced
Censorship topics are all controlled by the government
Right to change legal gender in Kaesong is illegal.
Current status
Illegal
Legal gender recognition is not possible in North Korea.
Legal recognition of non-binary gender in Kaesong is not legally recognized.
Current status
Not legally recognized
No legal recognition of non-binary gender
LGBT discrimination in Kaesong is no protections.
Current status
Since Sep 14, 1948
No protections
Because sexual orientation as a concept does not appear in North Korea law, there is no legal prohibition of discrimination by state and nonstate actors based on sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or sex characteristics.
LGBT employment discrimination in Kaesong is no protections.
Current status
No protections
Because sexual orientation as a concept does not appear in North Korea law, there is no legal prohibition of discrimination by state and non-state actors based on sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or sex characteristics.
LGBT housing discrimination in Kaesong is unknown.
Current status
Unknown
Same-sex adoption in Kaesong is illegal.
Current status
Illegal
According to the US Department of State report, same-sex adoption is illegal in North Korea.
Intersex infant surgery in Kaesong is unknown.
Current status
Unknown
Serving openly in military in Kaesong is ambiguous.
Current status
Since Sep 14, 1948
Ambiguous
Some secondary sources claim it is a "Don't Ask Don't Tell" situation. But, based on a North Korean propaganda film from the year 2000, male homosexuality may be against the law in the military, including for prisoners of war. Information is extremely limited, because North Korea heavily censors LGBT content.
However there are sources that claim that during the compulsory 10 year military service homosexual acts between men are very common.
However there are sources that claim that during the compulsory 10 year military service homosexual acts between men are very common.
Blood donations by MSMs in Kaesong is unknown.
Current status
Unknown
Equal age of consent in Kaesong is equal.
Current status
Since 2009
Equal
Under the Article 295 of the North Korean Criminal Law, the age of consent is 15 irrespectively of gender of parties.
Legal Rights
36 / 100
This region's Equality Index is based on legal rights alone. Please submit survey results that show the public opinion of LGBTQ+ issues in Kaesong to help improve its accuracy.
Top Contributors
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Kaesong LGBT Organizations
There are no organizations listed in Kaesong. Suggest one