Over the years, South Korea has become a formidable technological and economic powerhouse, leaping forward at an impressive pace. Yet South Korea continues to grapple with a more foundational and human challenge: recognizing and securing the rights of same-sex couples.

A pivotal moment for the LGBTQ community occurred in 2013. Two men, Kim Jho Kwang-soo and Kim Seung-hwan, both public figures, defied the norm by holding a public “marriage” ceremony in Seoul. They hoped that this audacious step would challenge the Korean government to recognize their union and mark a call for change.