Statistics Change Because Society Changes!

How Civil Society and Progressive Politics Helped Get Same-Sex Spouses Reflected in Korea’s 2025 Population and Housing Census

• English Translation: Juyeon

• Translation review: -

• Writer of the original text: 권태

• Review and amendments to the original text: Miguel

• Web & SNS Posting: Miguel

• News Card Design: 가리

Korea’s Ministry of Data and Statistics conducts the national Population and Housing Census every five years, surveying 20% of all households to collect data used for major government policy planning. In the 2025 census, for the first time, respondents can identify a same-sex household head and household member as “spouse” or “unmarried partner living together.” Until now, Korea has had no national statistics on LGBTQ+ people, and in previous censuses, choosing “spouse” for someone of the same sex would trigger an “error” message. In response to this absence, the Korean Sexual Minority Rights Federation (Rainbow Action Against Sexual-Minority Discrimination South Korea) called for a nationwide survey to recognize sexual minorities as a population group in government policymaking, as part of its policy demands for the 21st presidential election earlier this year. Rainbow Action highlighted that the census has always included questions closely tied to the everyday lives of ordinary people in Korea. In the past, it asked about features of traditional Korean homes, such as the agungi (the traditional kitchen hearth) and literacy status. As the census has evolved along with the way Koreans live, the inclusion of sexual minorities in the 2025 census shows that the shape and meaning of family in Korean society have already changed, and continue to change.

The inclusion of same-sex spouses and partners in this year’s census was made possible not only by persistent efforts from civil society, but also by concrete actions taken within progressive politics. Former Justice Party lawmaker Jang Hyeyeong, who introduced major bills such as the Comprehensive Anti-Discrimination Act and the “Three Family Rights Bills” (the Marriage Equality Act, the Civil Partnership Act, and the Support for Non-Marital Childbearing Act), formally questioned the Ministry of Data and Statistics (then Statistics Korea) in 2023 while she was still in office. Using data on “the status of marriage registration and rejection for same-sex couples” and the number of people diagnosed with “gender identity disorder” as her basis, she asked whether the 2025 census would classify same-sex couples as “same-sex couples” rather than as “other cohabitants.” At the time, Statistics Korea responded that it would be difficult to include such a classification in the 2025 census, citing the possibility of inaccurate responses due to Korea’s conservative social attitudes toward gender and sexuality. Before this inquiry, the National Human Rights Commission of Korea (NHRCK) had also recommended that Statistics Korea and other government ministries incorporate statistical policies to improve the human rights situation of sexual minorities, but these recommendations had all been rejected.

However, when asked about the newly added categories for same-sex spouses and same-sex couples in the 2025 census, the Population Census Division of the Ministry of Data and Statistics pointed to Rep. Jang Hyeyoung’s interventions during the 2020 and 2023 National Assembly audits, as well as the policy recommendations issued by the NHRCK. The Ministry of Data and Statistics explained that this change was introduced so that sampled households could answer all survey items faithfully without system-imposed restrictions, and to collect foundational data reflecting shifts in public attitudes toward recognizing spouses. In other words, the concrete concerns and sustained actions of civil society—and of the progressive political actors who connect with that civil society—have led to real, tangible change.

Alt text begins. A photo of Ahn Hyungjun, head of the Ministry of Data and Statistics, participating in a National Assembly audit. He is seated, responding to questions. There are several documents on the desk, and behind him sit various participants in the audit. Source: Hankook Ilbo.

Ahn Hyungjun, the head of the Ministry of Data and Statistics, drew considerable public attention with his remarks during the audit. At the October 29 audit session, Rep. Yoo Sangbum of the People’s Power Party (PPP) criticized the ministry’s decision, saying, “Same-sex spouses are not legally recognized yet,” and argued that “the Ministry of Data and Statistics unilaterally acknowledged something that requires social consensus, creating controversy.” He went on to claim that “this could only be interpreted as the government recognizing same-sex marriage, so the system needs to be fixed,” adding that “this is an issue that causes deep ideological conflict, and the Christian community in particular is reacting very sensitively.”

In response, Ahn Hyungjun stated, “This measure was taken to ensure statistical accuracy,” explaining that “if we don’t allow people to select these options, many will stop filling out the survey midway, so we approved this system to encourage complete responses.” He added, “I understand that there are diverse opinions on policies related to same-sex spouses and that social discussion is necessary,” and explained that “the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission recommended making this change, so we formed an advisory committee and consulted them six times.” Ahn emphasized in particular, “Having worked in statistics for over 20 years, I’ve come to see statistics as a mirror that reflects society,” adding, “We cannot choose not to reflect something just because someone doesn’t want to see it. Our role is to show things as they are.”

Alt text begins. A screenshot from the 2025 Population and Housing Census interface showing the section where a respondent can indicate the relationship between household members. The image shows that even when two people are both marked as women, it is now possible to select “spouse” as their relationship. Unlike before, selecting a same-sex spouse no longer triggers an error message. (Source: Hope and Law, Korean Lawyers for Public Interest and Human Rights, “2025 Population and Housing Census: Same-Sex Couples Can Now Be ‘Spouses,’” photo from “Marriage for All Korea.” )

We’ll close with the final paragraph from the statement released by the Korean Sexual Minority Rights Federation, Rainbow Action, regarding this year’s census (you can read their full statement here). Meanwhile, in Korea, the Marriage Equality Lawsuit—which seeks to reshape the meaning of marriage around love and equality rather than exclusion and discrimination—has been ongoing since October of last year. You can subscribe to updates by email through the Marriage for All Korea website, and the site also posts English press releases. For more detailed updates, please visit their page.

Until now, the lives of LGBTQ+ citizens have been completely overlooked in the formation of national policy. Yet we, like all other members of society, are people who learn, work, love, form families, and live our lives. We now strongly call for national-level policy efforts to address and eliminate the institutional and cultural discrimination faced by LGBTQ+ citizens. We once again welcome this historic decision to include the lives of sexual minorities in national statistics, and we hope it will serve as a catalyst for the changes to come.

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• English Translation: Juyeon

• Translation review: -

• Writer of the original text: 권태

• Review and amendments to the original text: Miguel

• Web & SNS Posting: Miguel

• News Card Design: 가리