Self-Proclaimed 'Married Lesbian' Kim Gyu-jin
Posts on SNS "OCW (Today Completed Birth)"
Sperm Donation and Artificial Insemination at Belgian Hospital
Kim Gyu-jin (32), who was the first in Korea to announce the pregnancy of a same-sex couple, has shared the news of childbirth.
On the 30th, Kim Gyu-jin posted on their SNS a photo taken at the hospital showing a "thumbs up" along with the message "O-chul-wan" (meaning "gave birth today"), announcing the birth of their daughter, Rani.
Kim also shared that their same-sex spouse, Kim Se-yeon (35), cut the umbilical cord and was able to fulfill the role of guardian despite being a same-sex couple, even marking "spouse" in the hospital paperwork.
Earlier, in June, Kim had revealed the pregnancy on their SNS, saying, "It has been four years since I introduced myself as a married lesbian with Korean nationality. Soon, I will add one more word here. I am eight months pregnant."
Kim Gyu-jin and Kim Se-yeon registered their marriage in New York, USA, in 2019, and held a wedding ceremony in Korea in November of the same year, officially becoming a married couple. Their marriage process became a topic of interest when it was published as an essay titled "Sister, Will You Marry Me?" in 2020.
Afterwards, the couple lived in France and conceived through artificial insemination using donated sperm from a fertility clinic in Belgium.
They had considered undergoing the procedure in Korea as well, but according to the ethical guidelines of the Korean Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology, "sperm donation procedures are only performed for legally married couples," so they gave up on domestic treatment.
In July, they attracted significant attention by holding a baby shower party under the name "Korea Low Birthrate Countermeasure Meeting" at a hotel in Seoul. At this event, Jang Hye-young, a member of the Justice Party, gave a presentation on the Life Partnership Act.
Since the two are not legally recognized as a married couple in Korea, they cannot receive legal protection or benefits as parents or spouses. Therefore, while Kim Gyu-jin is taking maternity leave, their spouse Kim Se-yeon cannot take parental leave or maternity leave.
On the 30th, Kim Gyu-jin shared their experience of giving birth to their daughter Rani with Women Dong-A magazine.
Kim expressed the hope that their daughter "will simply be healthy and happy. I want her to grow up safely as a child living in Korea."
Regarding the question their daughter might receive, "Why do you have two moms?" Kim said they would answer, "The place you belong to is a family with two moms, and your moms made important decisions because they wanted you very much. This is not something special."
Kim Se-yeon also said, "I hope (our daughter) grows up in a society where people can respect each other. Whether it is a divorced family, a remarried family, or a grandparent family, family forms are diverse, and I believe a healthy society is one where open discussions about diversity are possible."
The two expressed their determination to work towards having their marriage legally recognized and for both of them to be acknowledged as the mothers of their child.
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