Despite ban removal, women’s access to abortion pills faces legal void in Korea
Six years after Korea’s Constitutional Court struck down the country’s abortion ban, women seeking to end a pregnancy still face a legal void. The government has yet to approve abortion pills, and thousands are turning to the internet, where unverified drugs circulate in an expanding underground market.
Demonstration for International Safe Abortion Day, 28 September, Seoul
Authorities uncovered 2,641 cases of illegal online sales of abortion medication since 2021, when the abortion ban lost effect, according to new data from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety submitted to Rep. Nam In-soon of the Democratic Party on Tuesday.
The World Health Organization lists abortion medication as an essential drug, and more than 100 countries have approved its use. The Korean Ministry of Food and Drug Safety has maintained that it cannot authorize such medication until the law is revised. But according to Rep. Nam, the ministry received several legal opinions concluding that abortion pill approval is possible even without legislative changes.
“Despite receiving multiple legal opinions saying the ministry could authorize abortion medication without waiting for legal amendments, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety has neglected the issue, leaving women’s health unprotected,” Nam said. “Drugs traded online often have unclear origins, and their authenticity cannot be verified, posing serious health risks. The government must expedite approval to safeguard women’s right to health,” she added.
Authorities uncovered 2,641 cases of illegal online sales of abortion medication since 2021, when the abortion ban lost effect, according to new data from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety submitted to Rep. Nam In-soon of the Democratic Party on Tuesday.
SOURCE: Korea JoongAng Daily. Despite ban removal, women’s access to abortion pills faces legal void in Korea. 21 October 2025.
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More than 40 percent of men and women in South Korea believe in women’s right to get an abortion on demand, a recent survey showed
The survey of 300 women and 102 men aged 15-49 showed that 44.6 percent of the female respondents and 44.1 percent of the male respondents said, “a woman should be able to get an abortion, based on her judgement and choice”. The survey was conducted by the Korean Society of Maternal and Child Health, on commission of the Ministry of Health and Welfare.
Women and men differed on who should have the final say on the matter, however. Some 68.6 percent of the female respondents said the woman should decide on her own abortion, but the percentage was 41.2 percent among men. About 42.1 percent of male respondents said the pregnant woman and the father of the child should reach an agreement on the abortion.
When asked about whether abortion should be allowed for various stages of pregnancy, 33 percent of the female respondents who said women should be free to get an abortion said it should be allowed up to 10 weeks into pregnancy. Another 22 percent said the term limit should be 14 weeks, and 11.6 percent said it should be up to 22 weeks. Some 24 percent said women should be able to get an abortion regardless of the stage of pregnancy.
Men were more conservative by comparison, as only 8.8 percent said abortion should be allowed at all stages of pregnancy. Some 30.3 percent of men supporting abortion at will said the term limit should be 14 weeks, 24.5 percent said it should be 10 weeks, and 21.5 percent said it should be 22 weeks.
SOURCE: Korean Herald, by Yoon Min-sik, 25 October 2025.
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More parents taking parental leave
Reflecting the wider uptake of leave benefits, 339,530 people in 2025 used parental, maternity or paternity leave, or reduced working hours while caring for children. This represented a 33.1 percent increase from 255,119 in 2024.
More small and midsized companies are also granting parental leave. A total of 110,903 leave takers worked at businesses with fewer than 300 employees, up from 77,994 the previous year.
Use of reduced working hour programs rose as well. A total of 39,407 employees benefited from shorter hours, a 47.9 percent increase from 26,638 a year earlier, and about 65.1 percent of them worked for companies with fewer than 300 employees.
The Ministry noted that these figures are provisional, compiled from monthly data, and that the final annual totals may change slightly.
The government has introduced additional measures to support working parents, including a “10 a.m. start program” that allows employees to work one hour less with no cut in pay. Employers who adopt the program receive a state subsidy of 300,000 won ($210) per participating employee.
SOURCE: Korea Herald, by Yoon Min-sik, 30 January 2026.
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Prosecutors seek prison terms in 36-week abortion case
Prosecutors have sought prison terms for a woman who underwent an abortion at around 36 weeks of pregnancy as well as for the doctor who performed the procedure and the hospital director involved, local media reported Monday.
At a hearing held Monday at the Seoul Central District Court, prosecutors requested a 10-year prison sentence for the 81-year-old hospital director surnamed Yoon, along with a fine of 5 million won ($3,456) and criminal forfeiture of 1.15 billion won. They sought six-year prison terms for the 26-year-old patient surnamed Kwon and for the doctor, 61, surnamed Shim. All three are charged with murder.
SOURCE: Korea Herald, by Shin Ji-hye. 27 January 2026.