Same-sex couples in South Korea flee to wed

By You Soo-sun 

Same-sex marriage in Korea is unlikely to be legalised in the foreseeable future. For some, fleeing is no longer a choice, but a necessity to have their marriage recognised. The Korea Times interviewed same-sex couples to understand what marriage means for them and what it is like to live in a place where it is banned.

Chris and Ari, a Korean female couple in their 40s, wed in Canada four years ago. Their parents and relatives are still unaware of this.

“My father tells me marriage (between man and wife) is a duty one owes to his or her parents. The pain I suffer from hiding our marriage is my way of fulfilling that duty,” Chris said.  

And they often feel misunderstood, even by their close friends. “They do not consider our relationship as being serious. They see us as close friends living together,” Chris explained. “There was an instance when a friend asked my wife to receive a bouquet at her wedding… It was shocking.” 

And they plan on returning to Canada for good this time to live normally as married partners. “Marriage is a basic right. It’s what pulls lovers together and makes them feel more responsible for each other,” she said. “I just want to live in a place where I’m not legally discriminated against, and where I can protect my lover.”