An anti-gay group filed a complaint with prosecutors on the 28th against a section-level civil servant, the Director in charge of the Population and Housing Census (census) at the National Data Office (formerly Statistics Korea). The move was intended to raise an objection to this year's Population and Housing Census being conducted in a way that allows "same-sex couples" living in the same household to enter their relationship as "spouse."
LGBTQ groups said the new census method is significant as "the first case in which the existence of LGBTQ citizens is properly recorded in national statistics." But the National Data Office said, "It absolutely does not mean we intend to compile or release homosexuality statistics."
On this, one expert said, "The Supreme Court has already ruled that a same-sex partner can be recognized as a dependent under the national health insurance, and it is time for our society to consider practical issues such as education and welfare for the children of same-sex couples."
◇ First introduction of a method allowing same-sex couples to be entered as "spouse" in the population census
The Population and Housing Census is conducted every five years. The questionnaire includes "relationship to the head of household." In the 2020 census, if a person with the same gender as the head of household selected "spouse," an "input error" message appeared. Same-sex couples could not enter the other as a spouse.
However, this year's census has for the first time introduced a method that allows one party in a same-sex couple to enter the other as a spouse. This census runs from the 22nd through Nov. 18.
◇ LGBTQ groups vs. anti-gay groups in a clash over pros and cons… controversy also in the National Assembly
The coalition of LGBTQ rights groups Rainbow Action said in a statement released on the 21st that "it is significant as the first case in which the existence of LGBTQ citizens is properly recorded in national statistics." It added, "Questions to identify respondents' sexual orientation and gender identity should also be introduced to determine the size and distribution of LGBTQ citizens and reflect this in national policy." On its website, the group provides guidance on how "same-sex couples" and "LGBTQ families" can participate in the Population and Housing Census.
By contrast, anti-gay groups say the data office's move to allow same-sex partners to be entered as spouses is unconstitutional and illegal. They argue that under the Constitution, marriage is formed only between the sexes, and the Civil Act and Supreme Court precedent define marriage as "a spiritual and physical union between a man and a woman."
Anti-gay groups, including the National Professors' Coalition Against the Legalization of Homosexuality and Same-Sex Marriage, filed a complaint on the 28th with the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office against the Director in charge of the Population and Housing Census at the data office on charges including abuse of authority. The group claimed, "(The Director in charge of the Population and Housing Census at the data office) abused authority to have census takers enter same-sex partners as spouses on the survey form."
The issue stirred controversy in the National Assembly as well. When Rep. Cho Bae-sook of the People Power Party raised the issue during a parliamentary audit on the 24th, Legislative Affairs Agency chief Cho Won-cheol said, "We cannot ignore reality, and there is a need to investigate the actual situation."
◇ National Data Office: "This does not mean we will compile homosexuality statistics"
The data office explained that this is not a "survey of the actual conditions of same-sex couples." It said that if it kept the old method in which an error message appeared when "spouse" was entered as the relationship to the head of household, some same-sex couples would refuse to participate in the Population and Housing Census at all, so it changed the method to allow entry as a spouse. The explanation was that this would increase census participation and improve statistical accuracy.
Regarding this, an official at the data office said, "It absolutely does not mean we intend to compile and release homosexuality statistics."
In addition, the data office said that whether to conduct a same-sex marriage-related survey in the Population and Housing Census and aggregate the results into statistics requires careful review.