South Korea apologises for labelling homosexuality as ‘juvenile delinquency’ in youth counselling manual
The Korea Youth Counselling and Welfare Institute published the manual. (Chung Sung-Jun/Getty)
South Korea has promised to amend a government-affiliated youth counselling manual that classified homosexuality as a form of juvenile delinquency.
The manual categorised queerness as a “delinquency-related issue.” It was also grouped alongside sexual violence, theft and drug abuse.
The Korea Youth Counselling and Welfare Institute, an organisation affiliated with the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, published the manual. The organisation is responsible for working with young people, providing counselling and connecting them with welfare, healthcare and education services.
Outlets reported that this delinquency categorisation was included in the manual’s third revised edition, published in December 2019. The fourth edition, released in December 2025, also included the same wording.
South Korean media began reporting the classification earlier this week. The news prompted human rights groups to demand a revision to the manual.
The Ministry of Gender Equality and Family apologised for the wording, stating it was an editorial error.
‘We regret that the classification… caused discomfort and concern’
“We regret that the classification of content concerning sexual minorities as a type of delinquency-related problem in the manual has caused discomfort and concern to sexual minority youth and those involved,” the ministry said, as quoted by The Korea Herald.
“Based on feedback gathered last December from groups supporting sexual minorities and others, we revised the youth human rights protection manual for youth shelter staff in August,” a ministry official said.
“We will work to ensure that all young people can receive counselling and protection without discrimination.
The Institute notes that the wording was caused by an error by the manual writers and that the material had been carried over from older reference material.
In response to the public backlash, the ministry has stated that they are going to remove the classification of queerness as a “delinquency-related issue.”
Furthermore, the organisation added that it will be conducting a broader review of the manual in consultation with counselling experts. Additionally, the ministry pledged to implement further strengthened human rights training for youth companions and staff.
In South Korea, homosexuality is not criminalised for civilians, though same-sex marriage is not legally recognised. As of 2023, cohabiting couples can receive spousal coverage under the National Health Insurance Service (NHIS).
A 2024 ruling upholding same-sex couples’ rights to access health insurance benefits was heralded as a “significant step” towards LGBTQ+ equality, with many arguing it paves the way towards legalising same-sex marriage.
Additionally, the Military Criminal Act can still punish same-sex conduct between service personnel. Able-bodied Korean men face mandatory military conscription.
