Abortion reemerges as hot-button issue as ruling party eyes dormant bill

Debate over the legalization of the abortion pill has come under renewed scrutiny in Korea, as lawmakers move to address the legal gray zone surrounding women's health that has persisted since the country’s Constitutional Court struck down the abortion ban six years ago. On Wednesday, the National Assembly’s Health and Welfare Committee convened a major forum on the issue. Participants included lawmakers from the ruling Democratic Party of Korea, with Rep. Nam In-soon, who recently proposed bills aimed at removing restrictions on both surgical and medical abortions and extending national health insurance coverage to these procedures. “Women face significant difficulties in the absence of clear and official information and safe access to medication, despite abortion's decriminalization in 2019,” Nam said. She emphasized that the intent behind the proposed amendments is to ensure women’s safety and remove legal obstacles to proper medical care. Rep. Park Ju-min, chair of the committee, added, “In the absence of clear legal protections, women are often compelled to make unsafeWeiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Korea Times Weiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Korea Times