Supreme Court of Korea in the context of Cho Kuk

South Korea does not recognise same-sex marriage or civil unions. On 21 February 2023, an appellate court ruled that government health insurance should offer spousal coverage to same-sex couples, the "first legal recognition of social benefits for same-sex couples" in South Korea. This was upheld by the Supreme Court of Korea on 19 July 2024.

Polling suggests that support for the legal recognition of same-sex marriage is declining in South Korea. A 2025 Hankook Research poll showed that 31% of South Koreans supported same-sex marriage, dropping from 36% in 2021. A separate 2025 Gallup Korea survey reported 34% backing legalization compared to 58% opposition, similar to levels of support seen ten years prior.

The Supreme Prosecutors' Office of the Republic of Korea (SPO; Korean: 검찰청) is a governmental prosecutor organization in South Korea and is run under the Ministry of Justice. As a national representative of prosecutors, the Office works with the Supreme Court of Korea and below. It is scheduled to be abolished and replaced with the Serious Crimes Investigation Agency and the Prosecutors' Office under the Ministry of Justice, both with reduced powers, in September 2026.

The Constitutional Court of Korea (Korean: 헌법재판소) is a constitutional court of South Korea, seated in Jongno, Seoul. It is one of the apex courts – along with the Supreme Court – in South Korea's judiciary that mainly exercises constitutional review. Composed of nine justices, the court has the power to nullify unconstitutional laws, remove impeached officials from office, dissolve antidemocratic political parties, oversee disputes on powers of public authorities, and handle constitutional complaints.