From TIME · Chad de Guzman · · 2m
South Korea approves abortion pills after decades of bans
Seven years after decriminalizing abortion, South Korea will finally allow medication abortions starting in 2027, marking a major shift for one of the world's strictest countries.
In brief
Seven years after decriminalizing abortion, South Korea will finally allow medication abortions starting in 2027, marking a major shift for one of the world's strictest countries. South Korea is introducing abortion medication pills for the first time, allowing women up to 9 weeks pregnant to access them through…
South Korea finally approves abortion pills
The government announced this week it will approve abortion medication for the first time, seven years after the Constitutional Court ruled the longstanding ban unconstitutional.
Women faced dangerous alternatives for years
Since decriminalization in 2019, women had no legal access to abortion medication and resorted to overseas purchases or illegal transactions, risking their health.
“Even while fixing a leaking roof, the floor gets wet. I believe that doing what we can now, rather than waiting for a perfect solution, is a slightly better decision.”
Pills available up to 9 weeks of pregnancy
Women up to 9 weeks pregnant can obtain the medication with a prescription from hospitals or clinics. The rollout begins in the first quarter of 2027 and will span at least two years.
How the medication works
Mifepristone blocks progesterone to stop pregnancy, while misoprostol, taken 24 to 48 hours later, empties the uterus. This combination is the standard regimen used in the U.S. and recommended by the WHO.
84 countries already approve these pills
France and China approved mifepristone first in 1988. Today, 84 nations recognize the drug or its combination, including 32 in Europe, 23 in Africa, and 18 in Asia.
Women's groups want fewer restrictions
The Korea Women's Political Network welcomed the plan but raised concerns about prescription requirements and hospital-only dispensing, which could limit access for women without easy ob-gyn access.
Doctors need legal protections too
Medical professionals called for legal protections, saying they could face criminal punishment for administering or refusing to administer abortion medication without clear legislation.
Conservative groups oppose the plan
The Catholic Bishops' Conference of Korea opposes expanding abortion access and called for support programs to help women in crisis continue their pregnancies instead.
What it means
South Korea is introducing abortion medication pills for the first time, allowing women up to 9 weeks pregnant to access them through hospitals and clinics starting in early 2027, ending a legal vacuum since the 2019 court ruling that struck down the abortion ban.
