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Korean Government announces intention to introduce abortion up to 24 weeks

The Government in South Korea has announced their intention to introduce a bill that would allow abortion across the nation.

Korea’s Ministry of Justice revealed earlier this month that they would bring forth legislation that would allow for abortion up to 24 weeks. 

Abortion is currenlty permitted in the Republic of Korea under certain circumstances, such as significant risk of serious injury or death, or if the pregnancy results from rape or incest. 

However, the Government are looking to expand those conditions. The Government’s release states that the introduction of abortion would, at minimum, allow abortion to take place up to 14 weeks in pregnancy. 

However, it is believed the proposals could be even more extreme and allow abortion on demand up to 14 weeks, and under certain circumstances, including ‘extenuating medical or economic circumstances’, up to 24 weeks. In overseas duristictions with similar grounds for abortion through to 24 weeks, this has in practice allowed de-facto abortion on demand.

University professor, Song Young-chae, who is against a change in law told DW: “[legalising abortion] goes against Korean values, our ancestors and society. Koreans… will always value all life, even if it is unborn.” 

In April 2019, the Korean Supreme Court declared that the country’s current abortion law is  unconstitutional.

A similar case tried before the court in 2012 upheld the Act as constitutional. 

After declaring the abortion law unconstitutional, the Supreme court ordered the legislature to amend the law by 31 December 2020 or the abortion law will become null and void.

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Help fight major assisted suicide and abortion up to birth threats.

Dear reader,

Despite the Leadbeater assisted-suicide Bill passing its Third Reading on 20 June, it scraped through by just 23 votes (314-291) after enjoying a 55-vote majority at Second Reading. Had 12 more MPs switched sides, the Bill would be dead. It now limps into the Lords with a wafer-thin majority, where peers can amend, delay or reject it outright.

THE CHALLENGE

Dignity in Dying, My Death My Decision and Humanists UK have poured millions into pushing assisted suicide and will fight hard to stop the Lords overturning the Bill.

At the same time, the Antoniazzi abortion-up-to-birth amendment, passed by MPs in June, also heads to the Lords. If it becomes law, it would no longer be illegal for women to perform their own abortions for any reason – including sex-selective purposes – and at any point up to and during birth.

We will be up against the UK’s largest abortion providers, BPAS and MSI Reproductive Choices (formerly Marie Stopes), who are expected to push for even more extreme changes to our abortion laws in the Lords.

WE NEED YOUR HELP

Thousands of vulnerable lives are now at stake. Battling these two threats is the biggest and most expensive effort in our history, and has drained our limited resources. To fight effectively on both fronts, we aim to raise £200,000 by midnight this Sunday (13 July 2025).

Every donation, large or small, will help protect lives, and UK taxpayers can add 25p to every £1 through Gift Aid at no extra cost.

Will you make a donation now to help protect vulnerable lives from these major threats?

URGENT
APPEAL
to protect vulnerable lives

Help stop three major anti-life threats.

Help fight major assisted suicide and abortion up to birth threats.