Debate escalates as Korea’s ruling party proposes abortion medication legalization

Internal tension rises as discussions on abortion drug reform gain momentum in Korea

By Heo Ji-yoon
Aug 6, 2025

The legalization of abortion pills has emerged as a contentious issue once again. It has been six years since the Constitutional Court declared the abortion law unconstitutional, but the legal vacuum has resulted in problems with the illegal distribution of abortion pills. As the ruling party moves forward with the legislation of related bills, public opinions from the medical community, civic and religious organizations are sharply divided.

On the 6th, the Health and Welfare Committee of the National Assembly held a debate under the theme 'Six years after the Constitutional Court's unconstitutional ruling on the abortion law, should we leave it as it is?' In the previous month, lawmakers Nam In-soon and Lee Soo-jin from the Democratic Party of Korea each proposed amendments to the Maternal and Child Health Act to legalize abortion pills.

Continued: https://biz.chosun.com/en/en-science/2025/08/06/EGV6KECRZFH63L26RT6UVFXYOA/

5 years on, abortion pill Mifegymiso still stalled in Korea’s regulatory limbo

Yun-mi
2025.07.30

Five years have passed since the Constitutional Court ruled that the abortion law was unconstitutional, but abortion by medication remains in a legal gray area. Nothing shows this better than the failure to introduce the abortion pill Mifegymiso (mifepristone and misoprostol) into Korea due to legislative gaps.

“We need a legal basis to begin the approval process for Mifegymiso tablets. Currently, we cannot proceed with its substantive review due to a lack of such a basis,” an official at the Drug Approval Division of the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) told journalists on Wednesday.

Continued: https://www.koreabiomed.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=28411

30.07.2025

News

abortion pills

Hyundai Pharm

Maternal and Child Health Act

Mifegymiso

mifepristone and misoprostol

Ministry of Food and Drug Safety

Abortion in S. Korea: neither illegal nor legal

Despite 2019 Constitutional Court order, revision of abortion laws remains pending in National Assembly

By Lee Jaeeun
March 7, 2024

A 33-year-old woman surnamed Kim, living in Seoul, was taken by surprise when she found out she was pregnant late last year.

With no intention of getting married or having a child on her own, she began searching for hospitals that would terminate the pregnancy for her. While searching online, Kim encountered numerous advertisements and blogs listing prices for abortions by vacuum aspiration. The prices varied according to the stage of pregnancy: 600,000 won ($450) before week 7 and 900,000 won before week 10.

Continued: https://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20240307050821

How will overturning Roe v. Wade affect abortion pill in Korea?

Kim Chan-hyuk
Published 2022.07.04

With the U.S. Supreme Court’s overturn of Roe V. Wade ending the constitutional right to abortion on June 24, attention is on how the ruling will impact prescriptions of abortion-inducing medications.

Roe v. Wade was a landmark decision by the U.S. Supreme Court in 1973 that recognized women’s “right to privacy” in the Fourteenth Amendment, which protected a pregnant woman’s right to an abortion until the fetus can survive on its own outside the womb.

Continued: http://www.koreabiomed.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=14052

04.07.2022

South Korea abortion law

South Korea – Opinions divided over bridging study for abortion pill Mifegymiso

Kim Chan-hyuk
Published 2021.09.13

Pro-choice groups and health experts have expressed split opinions on whether to conduct a bridging trial of Mifegymiso (ingredient: mifepristone/misoprostol), an abortion drug that will arrive in Korea soon.

A bridging trial aims to obtain clinical data for Koreans when it is difficult to apply foreign clinical trial results due to differences in ethnic factors.

Continued: https://www.koreabiomed.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=12123

13.09.2021

Featured

News

Association of Pharmacists for Healthy Society

Hyundai Pharm

Joint Action for Reproductive Justice

South Korea – Regulator cautious about approving abortion drug Mifegymiso

Kim Chan-hyuk
Published 2021.07.12

Hyundai Pharm recently applied for marketing approval for Mifegymiso, an abortion pill, but the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) remained passive to accelerate the review process.

Industry watchers are questioning why the regulator has reversed its stance after promising accelerated approval for the drug.

Continued: http://www.koreabiomed.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=11609

12.07.2021

Featured

News

abortion pill

Association of Pharmacists for Healthy Society

Hyundai Pharm

Linepharma International

Mifegymiso

Ministry of Food and Drug Safety

Mother and Child Health Act

Hyundai Pharm to supply abortion pill Mifegyne in Korea

기자명 Kim Chan-hyuk
Published 2021.03.03

Hyundai Pharm made it official that it will supply Mifegyne, an abortive drug, in Korea. Industry watchers said the supply could open ways for medication abortion.

However, as the company is preparing for the regulator’s preliminary review before seeking the nod, it will take a considerable time until a pregnant woman gets a Mifegyne prescription, observers said.

Continued: http://www.koreabiomed.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=10578

03.03.2021