South Korea Set to Approve Abortion Pills Next Year
The country used to have one of the strictest policies against abortion among developed countries.
South Korea plans to approve abortion medication, marking a shift from its strict previous policies. The government aims to authorize the drug combination of mifepristone and misoprostol, commonly used in the U.S., after the Constitutional Court declared the ban unconstitutional seven years ago. President Lee Jae-myung acknowledged the absence of regulations, stating that women have had to resort to risky overseas purchases or illegal methods.
The Ministry of Gender Equality and Family proposed allowing women up to nine weeks pregnant to access the medication through hospitals or clinics, with a phased rollout expected to begin in the first quarter of 2027. The drug's safety and potential side effects will be monitored during the initial two-year period. The WHO recommends mifepristone and misoprostol for women under 12 weeks pregnant, but South Korea set the limit to 9 weeks due to the test's duration.
While other nations like France, China, and 84 others have approved mifepristone, dispensing regulations and prescriptions vary. South Korea's Ministry of Food and Drug Safety is reviewing the drug, and reactions range from welcoming the step forward by the Korea Women’s Political Network to concerns about excessive restrictions from advocacy groups and the Catholic Bishops Conference of Korea.
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