South Korea may repeal the ban on abortions after it announced it will begin a thorough review of the nation’s abortion policies on Sunday.
South Korea has long prohibited women from having abortions, but the government may repeal the ban and announced Sunday that it will begin a thorough review of the nation’s abortion policies.
The Sunday announcement from the president’s office comes in response to a petition from a group of South Koreans calling on President Moon Jae-in to amend the law and allow abortions, according to The Economist . “Unwanted pregnancy is a tragedy for all, including the woman, the unborn child and the country,” the petition reads, asking the government to approve the mifepristone abortion pill, which is available in other countries like the United States.
“We expect to move relevant discussions one step forward,”civil affairs senior presidential secretary Cho Kuk said in a statement, according to Reuters .
Abortion is illegal in South Korea with exceptions for rape, severe fetal defects, and if the woman’s life is in danger. Doctors who perform abortions or who provide South Korean women with abortion pills can face up to two years in prison and lose their licenses, but few doctors have ever been prosecuted.
