South Korea Abortion Pill Plan Faces Rights Group's Scrutiny
Seoul, Oct 27: As South Korea prepares to formally approve abortion pills next year, the human rights organization Human Rights Watch has raised questions about the proposed rules. The group said overly rigid limits on the medications could undermine women’s and girls’ access to safe and affordable healthcare.
The New York-based organization described the approval of abortion drugs as a meaningful development. Still, it argued that the framework must be designed carefully so that it does not restrict the very access it aims to create.
In a statement issued on Sunday, HRW asked the South Korean government to ensure broad availability of abortion medications. The group said the proposed arrangement could help end long-running regulatory uncertainty, but the rules still need changes.
Suzanne Burgstein, acting women’s rights research assistant at the organization, said that allowing the use of pills is important. She added that the government should ensure the rules are not so tight that women are deprived of abortion rights or struggle to afford care.
Last September, the government said it intended to formally sanction the use of abortion medications through nine weeks of pregnancy. The proposal would initially allow only doctors at major medical institutions to prescribe the drugs and supply them directly for the first two years. The arrangement could be revisited after that.
HRW has taken issue with two central aspects of the plan. The first is the nine-week cap on medication use. The second is the limitation of prescribing and dispensing authority to doctors at large institutions during the initial two-year period.
The group noted that prevailing medical guidelines support drug-based abortion up to 12 weeks of pregnancy. It also cited World Health Organization recommendations that a broader group of suitably trained health workers can deliver such care.
HRW warned that restricting the number of professionals allowed to prescribe and provide the drugs could hinder timely medical support. The effects would likely fall hardest on women who have difficulty reaching large hospitals.
The organization further urged the National Assembly to revise abortion laws so they meet international human rights standards. It recommended including abortion services under the national health insurance program and creating explicit legal protections for patients and healthcare providers.
Legal provisions on abortion in South Korea have been uncertain for years. In 2019, the Constitutional Court declared the existing ban unconstitutional and said legislative change was necessary. However, required amendments to related laws have not been completed, leaving a regulatory gap in the use of abortion pills and the availability of medical services.
The government says its plan to bring abortion medications under a formal system is designed to protect women’s health and safety. Officials have previously argued that women should receive treatment within a secure medical setting instead of turning to unverified methods.