Comment by mango on Incidentally Dyed By Spring's Love - Chapter 58

Okay, I know Gonghyun's offer to adopt Cheongsoon seems odd but alternative family arrangements for gay couples are not uncommon in East Asia. In Japan where gay marriage isn't legal (except for Tokyo), parents sometimes adopt their child's partner just so that they can be on the same family registry even if it means on paper they're siblings.

There are many legal benefits to being related on paper. In Korea, like the translator's note said, you can't sign off on medical treatment for your partner if you're not family or married. So if Gonghyun was to get into an accident, was unconscious and needed surgery, Cheongsoon wouldn't be able to consent to it, he would have to get into contact with Gonghyun's mom to sign off on it and that would just be a mess with her personality. Even if they were to get married overseas, their marriage wouldn't legally be recognized in Korea. They wouldn't be able to legally adopt a child together, it's very difficult even for one unwed person to adopt a child. If Gonghyun wasn't rich with connections, he probably wouldn't be able to offer to adopt Cheongsun.