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Video Description

Type: KIHASA Policy Featurette

Topic: Any foreign cases where unmarried cohabitants are protected as a family?

Guest Speaker: Byun Soo-jeong, fellow, KIHASA and Heo Min-sook, Research Officer, National Assembly Research Service

Transcript

There are a significant number of countries that have systems in place to provide legal protection for cohabiting relationships. A representative country that we all know well is France, whose PACS, also known as the Civil Solidarity Pact, protects cohabiting relationships. Couples who enter into a PACS receive benefits similar to those of married couples, such as tax credits and child-rearing support, which suggests that PACS and marriage are being treated similarly. The legal task of protecting unmarried unions can be addressed by adopting registration systems like those in other countries. This is kind of a legal recognition of cohabiting relationships. At present, many cohabitants in Korea face issues such as not being able to provide consent as guardians in medical institutions, not being granted next of kin status in funeral arrangements, and not being eligible for newlywed loans or housing subscription qualifications. They are also excluded from eligibility for family care leave or longer-term leave of absence.