Jeju is governed by federal South Korea law. Learn more
- Homosexuality
- ⚢✔ Legal
- Gay Marriage
- ⚭✖ Foreign same-sex marriages recognized only
- Censorship
- ✔ No censorship
- Changing Gender
- ✔ Legal, no restrictions
- Gender-Affirming Care
- ✖ Restricted
- Non-Binary Gender Recognition
- ✖ Not legally recognized
- Discrimination
- Varies by Region
- Employment Discrimination
- Varies by Region
- Housing Discrimination
- Varies by Region
- Adoption
- ✖ Illegal
- Intersex Infant Surgery
- ✖ Not banned
- Military
- ✖ Illegal
- Donating Blood
- ✔ Legal
- Conversion Therapy
- ✖ Not banned
- Age of Consent
- ✔ Equal
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Public Opinion
Jeju is lacking public opinion data.
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Homosexual activity in Jeju is legal.
Current status
Legal
Same-sex intercourse is not illegal for civilians in South Korea, but it is between men in the military.
Article 92-6 of the Military Criminal Act penalizes "anal intercourse" and other so-called “indecent acts” in any military setting with up to two years in prison — and all able-bodied men must serve about two years in the military. No law criminalizes heterosexual intercourse in the South Korean military.
Article 92-6 of the Military Criminal Act penalizes "anal intercourse" and other so-called “indecent acts” in any military setting with up to two years in prison — and all able-bodied men must serve about two years in the military. No law criminalizes heterosexual intercourse in the South Korean military.
Same-sex marriage in Jeju is foreign same-sex marriages recognized only.
Current status
Since Oct 1, 2019
Foreign same-sex marriages recognized only
Currently, same-sex couples can receive spousal coverage under the National Health Insurance Service. Diplomatic same-sex marriages are also recognized.
Censorship of LGBT issues in Jeju is no censorship.
Current status
Since 2003
No censorship
There are no formal restrictions on freedom of expression and association in South Korea. However, in July 2023, the mayor and other municipal officials in Daegu attempted to physically obstruct the annual Daegu Queer Culture Festival, citing traffic violations. They failed and the festival continued.
Right to change legal gender in Jeju is legal, no restrictions.
Current status
Since Mar 16, 2020
Legal, no restrictions
Since 2020, all criteria that was previously mandatory has become optional, and the court will request them on a case-by-case basis. First approved legal case of FTM gender recognition without sterilization occured in 2021, and for MTF in 2023. Despite this, most judges still view the surgery as a prerequisite, and thus those seeking LGR often move to district with lax requirements. In 2024 Cheongju District Court has suggested a new criteria "based on subjective experiences of gender and gender identity, fitness to the identifying gender role, medical criteria and external presentation (not necessarily sterilization), and impression by a 3rd party."
Legal, but requires surgery
There is and has been no law outlining requirements for changing legal gender. However the supreme court has allowed such procedure with en banc ruling from 2006. The requirements are governed by the guidelines set by the supreme court. These guidelines have included abusive or discriminatory requirements, such being at least 19 years old themselves, as well as being unmarried, diagnosed with “transsexualism” and having undergone hormone therapy and been sterilized.
Gender-affirming care in Jeju is restricted.
Current status
Restricted
South Korea places heavy restrictions on the ability of transgender people to access gender-affirming care. The requirements are:
- Must be older than 20
- Must be unmarried
- Must have no underage children
- Must be a Korean citizen
- Written consent of parents (regardless of age)
Additionally, for MtF trans people, issues with conscription apply.
- Must be older than 20
- Must be unmarried
- Must have no underage children
- Must be a Korean citizen
- Written consent of parents (regardless of age)
Additionally, for MtF trans people, issues with conscription apply.
Legal recognition of non-binary gender in Jeju is not legally recognized.
Current status
Not legally recognized
No legal recognition.
LGBT discrimination in Jeju is varies by region.
Current status
Varies by Region
Illegal in some jurisdictions, bills proposed to extend protections nationwide
LGBT employment discrimination in Jeju is varies by region.
Current status
Varies by Region
Illegal in some jurisdictions, proposed nationwide
LGBT housing discrimination in Jeju is varies by region.
Current status
Varies by Region
Illegal in some jurisdictions, proposed nationwide
Same-sex adoption in Jeju is illegal.
Current status
Illegal
No information about when adoption regulations went into effect.
Intersex infant surgery in Jeju is not banned.
Current status
Not banned
There is no known legal prohibition on "genital normalisation surgery" being performed on intersex infants.
Serving openly in military in Jeju is illegal.
Current status
Illegal
Same-sex intercourse is not illegal for civilians in South Korea, but it is between men in the military. Article 92-6 of the Military Criminal Act penalizes “indecent acts” in any military setting with up to two years in prison — and all able-bodied men must serve about two years in the military. No law criminalizes heterosexual intercourse in the South Korean military.
However, there are some signs that restrictions on LGBTQ service members may be easing: In 2022, the South Korean Supreme Court overturned the conviction of two soldiers for gay sex, and in 2021, a district court posthumously reinstated a transgender soldier who died by suicide after being dismissed from the army.
However, there are some signs that restrictions on LGBTQ service members may be easing: In 2022, the South Korean Supreme Court overturned the conviction of two soldiers for gay sex, and in 2021, a district court posthumously reinstated a transgender soldier who died by suicide after being dismissed from the army.
Blood donations by MSMs in Jeju is legal.
Current status
Legal
South Korea forbids people who have had sex "with certain high-risk individuals" within the past one year to donate blood. These rules apply equally to all people, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity. The official guidelines urge people to not donate for the purposes of finding out if they have AIDS.
Conversion therapy in Jeju is not banned.
Current status
Not banned
Conversion therapy is not criminalized. It is still encouraged as a plausible fix for homosexuality, with South Korean official Kim Seong-hoi calling homosexuality a "mental illness" and endorsing conversion therapy.
Equal age of consent in Jeju is equal.
Current status
Equal
Age of consent is equal for both homosexual and heterosexual relationships, set at 13 & 16 years old.
At 13, individuals can have sexual relations with anyone older than 13 and younger than 19. At 16, individuals can have sexual relations with anyone older than 16.
At 13, individuals can have sexual relations with anyone older than 13 and younger than 19. At 16, individuals can have sexual relations with anyone older than 16.
Legal Rights
60 / 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 Jeju to help improve its accuracy.
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Alternative names: Jeju, Quelpart