South Korea – ’Abortion consultation’ included in health insurance

2021-08-03
By Lee Hyo-jin

Women are now able to receive medical consultations on abortion legally and at a reasonable price, as the medical service has been newly included in the National Health Insurance Service (NHIS), according to the Ministry of Health and Welfare, Monday.

The health ministry announced the inclusion as a follow-up measure to a landmark ruling by the Constitutional Court in April 2019 which found the ban on abortion was unconstitutional because prohibiting it in the early stages of pregnancy was a violation of women's right to self-determination.

Continued: https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/nation/2021/08/113_313299.html


S. Korea – Women’s rights groups call for complete abolishment of anti-abortion law

Posted : 2020-10-01
By Lee Hyo-jin

Women's rights activists are urging the government to take swift action to revise current laws to ensure the complete decriminalization of abortion, regardless of the length of pregnancy.

The country's 67-year-old Anti-abortion Law was declared unconstitutional by a landmark ruling of the Constitutional Court in April last year, which stated that banning abortion in the early stages of pregnancy was a violation of the right to self-determination.

Continued: https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/nation/2020/10/251_296847.html


South Korea – Justice ministry committee recommends repealing anti-abortion law

August 21, 2020
By Woo Jae-yeon

SEOUL, Aug. 21 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's justice ministry said Friday it is working on revising a 67-year-old criminal law that made abortion a crime punishable by up to three years in prison.

The Committee of Gender Equality under the ministry made its first policy recommendation that the ministry should recognize women's right to choose as a basic human right and move closer to repealing the decades-old law.

Continued: https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20200821008600315


South Korea – Calls grow to legalize abortion drugs

Calls grow to legalize abortion drugs

Posted : 2019-07-21
By Bahk Eun-ji

Concern is rising over the growing illegal online sale of "abortion drugs," the effects of which have not been proven.

With a law banning abortion ruled unconstitutional earlier this year, women's rights groups say the nation needs urgently to legalize the prescription and sale of abortion drugs so women can use safe and authorized medicine.

Continued: http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/nation/2019/07/119_272634.html


Addressing stigma while moving a national campaign: Spotlight on South Korea

Addressing stigma while moving a national campaign: Spotlight on South Korea

Posted June 18, 2019
by inroads Comms, with Na Young

In this article, inroads member, Na Young, of the The Sexual and Reproductive Rights Forum and the Joint Action for Reproductive Justice in South Korea shares with us in detail what it took to generate a people’s movement to get rid of an anti-abortion law and the stigma-busting that is still ongoing.

1) How has abortion stigma shown up around the law historically in Korea?

Anti-abortion law was first made in Korea during the Japanese occupation. After Independence and the Korean War, the first assembly decided to keep the punishment clauses on abortion made by the Japanese government. According to this law, women who get an abortion can spend up to a year in prison or be fined up to 2 million won (about 1,850 dollars). Doctors, midwives and any healthcare workers who provide abortions can face up to two years in prison.

Continued: http://makeinroads.org/making-inroads/2019/June/addressing-stigma-while-moving-a-national-campaign-spotlight-on-south-korea