South Korea medication abortion plan faces criticism over proposed restrictions

Human Rights Watch reported on October 25, 2026, that a South Korean government proposal would legalise medication abortion in the country by 2027. However, the rights organization stated that proposed regulations remain overly restrictive and will continue to impair the right of women and girls to access safe and affordable abortion services. [1]

The details of the government plan were discussed during a parliamentary audit, where members of the National Assembly questioned government officials about the proposal. The debate occurs seven years after the Constitutional Court of South Korea ruled against the country's decades-long abortion ban. [1]

South Korea is an East Asian country with a population of approximately 52 million people, about half of whom live in the Seoul metropolitan area. [3]

Human Rights Watch warned that despite the planned introduction of medication abortion in 2027, the proposed regulatory framework threatens to leave health services for women and girls unnecessarily limited. [1]