Pyongyang is governed by federal North Korea law. Learn more
- Homosexuality
- ⚢✔ Legal
- Gay Marriage
- ⚭✖ Unrecognized
- 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
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Homosexual activity in Pyongyang is legal.
Current status
Since Sep 14, 1948
Legal
There are no specific laws in North Korea that criminalize homosexuality. There are, however, claims that it is de facto illegal, but this has no official backing. (Date shown is the date of North Korean statehood.)
While punishment is rare, it was reported by Free North Korea Radio that in September 2011 North Korea executed a lesbian couple for being influenced by capitalism and bringing corruption of public morals. However, this report has never been confirmed to be true.
Finally, even though de jure homosexuality is not prohibited, de facto there were some cases of punishment for LGBT people
While punishment is rare, it was reported by Free North Korea Radio that in September 2011 North Korea executed a lesbian couple for being influenced by capitalism and bringing corruption of public morals. However, this report has never been confirmed to be true.
Finally, even though de jure homosexuality is not prohibited, de facto there were some cases of punishment for LGBT people
Same-sex marriage in Pyongyang is unrecognized.
Current status
Unrecognized
Depiction in media of affection in North Korea tend to be very rare, and no law against gay marriage exists in the constitution.
Censorship of LGBT issues in Pyongyang 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 Pyongyang is illegal.
Current status
Illegal
Legal gender recognition is not possible in North Korea.
Gender-affirming care in Pyongyang is unknown.
Current status
Unknown
Legal recognition of non-binary gender in Pyongyang is not legally recognized.
Current status
Not legally recognized
No legal recognition of non-binary gender
LGBT discrimination in Pyongyang 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 Pyongyang 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 Pyongyang is unknown.
Current status
Unknown
Same-sex adoption in Pyongyang 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 Pyongyang is unknown.
Current status
Unknown
Serving openly in military in Pyongyang 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 Pyongyang is unknown.
Current status
Unknown
Equal age of consent in Pyongyang 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
38 / 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 Pyongyang to help improve its accuracy.
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Alternative names: Pyongyang