South Korea announces a plan to formally allow abortion pills for pregnancies of up to nine weeks, presenting it as a response to an ongoing regulatory gap after the Constitutional Court struck down the abortion ban in 2019. Prime Minister Han Seong-sook says the absence of a regulated system has increased risks to women’s health and safety and has led some to use “dangerous methods” or unverified options.
Under the proposed phased approach, the government initially limits prescription and dispensing to major hospitals, with both steps handled within hospitals for the first two years. After additional safeguards are put in place, the system would shift so doctors prescribe while independent pharmacies dispense. The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety reviews applications for import approval and says it will assess the safety and quality of the drugs before proceeding. Separately, a Ministry of Government Legislation interpretation says approving the pills does not violate the Mother and Child Health Act.
Outlets also report differing emphasis from stakeholder groups: women’s groups generally support introducing abortion pills but call for quicker approval and broader access, while parts of the medical community urge that legal amendments and safety management systems be established before expansion. The plan is framed as aiming for implementation around the first quarter of next year, with a longer timeline toward full rollout by the end of March 2027, depending on safeguards.
