South Korea’s constitutional court on Thursday narrowly upheld a law banning same-sex relations within the armed forces, citing a possible risk to the military’s combat readiness in a ruling criticised by activists as a setback for gay rights.

Under the country’s military criminal act, members of the armed forces face up to two years in prison for same-sex relationships. The law has been referred to the court and upheld by it four times since 2002.

In Thursday’s five-to-four ruling, the court said allowing same-sex relations could undermine discipline within the military and harm its combat capabilities.

    • Stovetop@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      gay men who are willing forced to serve.

      Military service is not optional in South Korea.

    • miseducator@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      That’s the thing: most of them are not willingly there. Military service is compulsory for all able-bodied, South Korean men.