South Korean government to weigh phased rollout of abortion pills for early pregnancies
Prime Minister Han Seong-sook announced that the government will study allowing abortion pills for women up to nine weeks pregnant, citing safety concerns and the lack of updated regulations since the 2019 court ruling.
During a policy coordination meeting, Prime Minister Han Seong-sook revealed that the administration intends to consider legalising medical abortion pills for pregnancies up to nine weeks. The initial phase would keep the entire process within hospitals for two years, after which qualified doctors could prescribe the medication and pharmacies would dispense it. Han highlighted that women are turning to unsafe alternatives because regulations have not been revised since the Constitutional Court struck down the abortion ban in 2019.
She framed the initiative as a health-protective measure, stressing that safety outweighs all other concerns. The government also said it remains mindful of societal views on the sanctity of life while seeking to fill the regulatory vacuum. Broad public understanding of the policy’s intent was requested.
Why it matters
It could reshape access to safe abortion care in South Korea and address a growing public-health risk.
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