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South Korean same-sex couple to fight for marriage rights

The couple made the statement ahead of a court hearing regarding their appeal against the marriage ban.

By Elizabeth Shim
South Korean filmmaker Kim Chokwangsu and Kim Seung-hwan said at a press conference on Monday the couple and their attorneys intend to win their case by appealing to the “spirit of the South Korean constitution.” Photo by Yonhap
South Korean filmmaker Kim Chokwangsu and Kim Seung-hwan said at a press conference on Monday the couple and their attorneys intend to win their case by appealing to the “spirit of the South Korean constitution.” Photo by Yonhap

SEOUL, July 6 (UPI) -- An openly gay South Korean couple has appealed a government decision to deny legal recognition of their marriage.

The South Korean filmmaker Kim Chokwangsu and his life partner Kim Seung-hwan said they had attempted to file their marriage with a Seoul district office but the registration was denied, Yonhap reported.

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The 50-year-old filmmaker said at a press conference on Monday the couple and their attorneys intend to win their case by appealing to the "spirit of the South Korean constitution."

The couple made the statement ahead of a court hearing regarding their appeal against the marriage ban, South Korean newspaper JoongAng Daily reported.

"Today is an important day for our marriage, and an important day for South Korea's sexual minorities," said Kim Chokwangsu.

Kim's life partner Kim Seung-hwan said, "Love between two people is sufficient for the right to love. The law will recognize [our love] for the sake of the happiness of all [South Korean] citizens."

Ryu Min-hee, a human rights lawyer representing the couple, said the denial of same-sex marriage recognition is unlawful according to South Korean civil law.

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Ryu said South Korean courts must fix the marriage registration system for same-sex couples.

The filmmaker and his partner tied the knot on Sept. 7, 2013, during a public wedding ceremony where both families and 2,000 observers were in attendance.

Their marriage registration was subsequently denied in December of that year. The Seoul district office refused to recognize the marriage as a civil union.

The couple filed a lawsuit last May.

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