Korea plans abortion pill rollout as doctors, women's groups clash over access
As Korea prepares to introduce abortion pills, women’s rights groups and doctors are welcoming the move but remain divided over how broadly the drugs should be made available. Women's rights advocates are calling for wider eligibility and eased prescription rules, while doctors are urging tighter medical oversight, reflecting a broader debate over how to balance reproductive autonomy with patient…
Korea is set to roll out abortion pills, with women's rights groups and doctors expressing support for the move but disagreeing on the extent to which the drugs should be accessible. Advocates for women's rights are pushing for relaxed eligibility criteria and simplified prescription procedures, while medical professionals advocate for stricter medical supervision, highlighting a larger discussion on striking a balance between reproductive freedom and patient safety.
The Korean government announced its intention to permit the use of abortion pills for pregnancies no longer than nine weeks, starting from the first quarter of the next year. This decision followed a long-standing legislative stalemate, as the Constitutional Court declared abortion laws unconstitutional in 2019. However, legislators have failed to reach a consensus on related matters, including setting permissible gestational limits, for years.
During this period, abortion pills have been distributed illegally, prompting calls for their official approval. President Lee Jae Myung directed officials to explore allowing Mifegyne during a Cabinet meeting in July.
Written by urgent.news from The Korea Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
