'One Year Since Abortion Law Ruled Unconstitutional'... Women's Groups Demand Immediate Legal Reform

On April 11 last year, when the Constitutional Court of Korea ruled the abortion law unconstitutional, female activists who had urged for the unconstitutionality of the abortion law in front of the Constitutional Court in Seoul cheered upon hearing the verdict. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Shinwon Yoon] On the eve of the one-year anniversary of the Constitutional Court's ruling of unconstitutionality on the abortion law, civic groups led by women's organizations urged, "The government and the National Assembly must immediately revise the law to protect women's health rights."

On the 10th, the "Joint Action for the Abolition of Abortion Law for All" held a press conference in front of the National Assembly, stating, "According to the Constitutional Court's decision, an alternative bill must be prepared by December 31 of this year, but social discussions for legal revision are being postponed repeatedly," and added, "The 21st National Assembly should focus on preparing a bill that fully decriminalizes abortion, and the government should make efforts such as establishing a healthcare system for safe pregnancy termination."

The Constitutional Court (Constitutional Tribunal) ruled on April 11 last year that the criminal provision on abortion in the Criminal Act was unconstitutional. At that time, the Court judged, "It restricts the pregnant woman's right to self-determination and lacks minimal infringement; it unilaterally and absolutely prioritizes the public interest of protecting fetal life, thereby infringing on the pregnant woman's right to self-determination."

The Court decided that the abortion law provision could not be immediately abolished to fully allow abortion, and issued a ruling of unconstitutionality requiring the legal provisions to be amended by December 31 of this year. Accordingly, the National Assembly must decide the exact timing and conditions under which abortion is permitted. If the law is not revised by this deadline, the abortion law provision will be abolished.

Na Young, the representative of 'Share,' a center for sexual rights and reproductive justice, urged, "The reality of women who have had to endure violence and stigma amid discrimination and inequality has not changed yet," and called on the government and the National Assembly to "act so that women who terminate pregnancies do not have to bear the pain alone."