Broader family concepts
Recognizing unmarried couples needs social consensus
The Ministry of Gender Equality and Family is moving to recognize unmarried or cohabiting couples as a legally defined family. Korea's Civil Act limits the definition of a family to spouses, lineal blood relatives, brothers and sisters. The Framework Act on Healthy Families, which constitutes the basis of various family policies, also defines a family as the "basic social unit formed by marriage, blood relations, and adoption." The ministry is proposing to break up this framework, as part of government moves to overhaul laws and systems to suit rapid social changes, including the concept of family.