by Lee Young-ki
Sept. 12, 2026
Seven years have passed since the Constitutional Court struck down South Korea's abortion ban, and the legislative and regulatory vacuum left in its wake has given rise to a black market for mifepristone, the oral abortion drug. Buyers and sellers have quietly built an underground trade, but the drugs changing hands carry no guarantee of identity or quality, and the transactions themselves violate pharmaceutical law.
The government has recently moved to formally introduce mifepristone, signaling that it is preparing to open a legal path to abortion after years of inaction. Experts say the move could ensure safe access for vulnerable groups, including teenagers, but caution that careful deliberation is still needed on the gestational limit at which the drug may be used.
Continued: https://mbiz.heraldcorp.com/article/10870985