Same-sex couples will file for a constitutional review of the current law that limits marriage to that of heterosexual couples, saying it violates their right to marry freely and the right to pursue happiness, their lawyers said Thursday.
Marriage for All, a civic group, and the Lawyers for a Democratic Society, also known as Minbyun, announced the plan during a press briefing on Thursday, saying the plaintiffs in the case were denied approval of their marriage registration by district offices.
Eleven same-sex couples will file an appeal against the Seoul Family Court, four district courts in Seoul and the Bucheon branch of the Incheon District Court on Friday, and request each court for a constitutional review of the current law.
The plaintiffs plan to take the matter directly to the Constitutional Court if the courts decide not to follow through with their request.
The first lesbian couple to give birth through sperm donation in the country, Kim Gyu-jin and Kim Se-yeon, joined the press briefing in supp
ort of the legal action.
“I decided to show up today with courage for my daughter,” said Kim Se-yeon, adding “Please show interest (in the matter) so that our family of three can lead our routine lives happily and safely, and to prevent the world from teaching discrimination to our kids.”
Among those listed as plaintiffs were So Seong-wook and Kim Yong-min, who brought about a landmark Supreme Court ruling in July that recognized the same spousal coverage from state health insurance program as a same-sex couple.
The plaintiffs claim that the civil law currently in place violates their right to equality, the right to pursue happiness and the right to marry freely.
It marks the second lawsuit demanding the legalization of same-sex marriage in South Korea.
In 2014, a high-profile gay couple, Kim Jho Gwang-soo and Kim Sung-hwan filed a suit in protest of the dismissal of their report of marriage, but the district and appeals court at the time both rejected their appeal.
Source: Yonhap News Agency