Key NHRCK Activities J. Recommendation ‌ for institutional improvement to guarantee gender minorities the right to form a family On December 23, the Commission recommended to the Speaker of the National Assembly that healthcare, and division of property; various forms of families and changes in how families are perceived be recognized; and early deliberation and decision on the proposed partial amendment to the Framework Act on Healthy Families be made to counter prejudices and discrimination against gender minorities. Part 1 Introduction a law be legislated on basic functions gender minorities need to live their lives, including housing, Regarding petitions (19-jinjeong-0871500 and one other combined) that same-sex couples are violated their right to equality and other basic rights because no protection is available to them in terms of housing, pension, healthcare, and tax benefits due to a lack of laws and institutions that or legal amendments in the Civil Code, among others, and thus dismissed the petitions on the ground that they are not within the realm of its investigation. However, it did recognize that the current laws, which rest on the traditional concept of families, fails to protect the diverse forms of living communities from discrimination. Also, in light of the movements towards legal protection of various forms of living communities in certain countries, the Commission concluded that the Korean legal system has not kept up with the reality and, as such, needs to be improved. Thus, it Part 2 Key NHRCK Activities protect same-sex couples in Korea, the Commission concluded that the matter requires legislation made the above recommendations in accordance with Paragraph 1, Article 25 of the NHRCK Act. and other potential issues with regards to their legal relations in case their spouse or partner pass away. In a 2014 Commission survey of discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity, 17% of homosexual or bisexual respondents said they had experienced discrimination due to a legal vacuum. According to a survey conducted by the Korean Sexual Minority Culture & Right Center in 2021, gender minorities feel a need for policies in housing (82.3%), income (71.5%), and healthcare (57.1%). Also, in a family diversity survey by the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, 68.5% said families are relationships that share housing and livelihood. This is indication that public perception of family diversity is more permissive, calling for a reevaluation of existing family concept based on marriage. 49 Part 3 Appendices The petitions raised by 1,056 same-sex Korean couples living in Korea and abroad highlight the substantial social security challenges faced by this group—housing and pension among others—