(2nd LD) Gov't announces plans to formally introduce abortion pills

Seoul, September 16 - The South Korean government has announced plans to formally permit the use of abortion pills for women up to nine weeks pregnant, despite ongoing uncertainty surrounding related regulations. This decision stems from the Constitutional Court's 2019 ruling that overturned the abortion ban. The ministries of Gender Equality, Health, and Food and Drug Safety discussed the plans at a government policy coordination meeting, highlighting the risks to women's health and safety due to the institutional vacuum.

The plan involves a phased introduction of abortion pills, with both prescription and dispensing initially occurring directly at hospitals for the first two years. Following this, the system will transition to doctors prescribing and pharmacies dispensing the pills once certain conditions are met. The Food and Drug Safety Ministry has received applications for approval of abortion pills for use by women up to nine weeks pregnant and will assess their safety and quality before proceeding.

Prime Minister Han Seong-sook emphasized that the government aims to introduce the pills within the first quarter of next year, contingent on the full implementation of necessary procedures. She stressed that safety should be the top priority, noting that women are resorting to dangerous methods and it is unacceptable to neglect their lives and safety.

Prime Minister Han highlighted that the government is giving utmost consideration to concerns about the value of life and aims to protect people's health rather than encouraging abortion. The formal introduction of abortion pills is part of the administrative tasks set by the Lee Jae Myung government, which received additional impetus after Lee instructed the government in July to explore methods for safely allowing women to use abortion pills even before the legal framework is fully established.