SOUTH KOREA – Women’s right groups urge Constitutional Court to acquit doctor and reform abortion law
by International Campaign for Women's Right to Safe Abortion
June 1, 2018
In 2017, following a petition that garnered a huge number of signatures and demonstrations in support of abortion law reform, a coalition of feminist groups, social movement groups and progressive parties was formed in South Korea, called Joint Action for Reproductive Justice.
On 24 May 2018, the coalition held a press conference in front of the Constitutional Court, where the Court was hearing a case brought by a doctor who had been criminally charged for carrying out abortions. The last time the abortion law was challenged, in 2012, the Court ruled to maintain the law. Although apparently rarely enforced, the law imposes a two-year jail term on doctors for conducting abortions, while women who have abortions are fined 2 million won ($1,850) or may face one year in jail.
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