HRW urges S. Korea to ease restrictions on proposed abortion pill rules

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WASHINGTON, Oct. 26 (Yonhap) -- Human Rights Watch (HRW) has urged South Korea to ensure wider access to abortion pills as the country moves to formally introduce the medication next year, describing the initiative as an important step but warning that restrictions could make abortion services inaccessible.

In a press release issued Sunday, the New York-based international human rights group said the Seoul government's plan to formally introduce medication abortion in 2027 would help address a longstanding regulatory gap but criticized proposed restrictions on its use.

"Allowing the use of abortion pills is an important step, but South Korean lawmakers need to ensure that regulations aren't so restrictive that abortions are inaccessible and unaffordable," Susanne Bergsten, acting women's rights research assistant at HRW, said in the release.

"South Korea's National Assembly should swiftly align abortion legislation with international human rights standards to protect patients and providers," she added.

Last month, the South Korean government announced a plan to formally allow the use of abortion pills by women up to nine weeks pregnant, as related regulations remain unrevised following the Constitutional Court's 2019 decision to strike down the abortion ban.

Under the plan, abortion pills would initially be approved for use during the first nine weeks of pregnancy, with only doctors at large medical institutions directly prescribing and dispensing the medication for the first two years.

HRW argued that the currently proposed rules were inconsistent with medical practices supporting medication abortion for up to 12 weeks of pregnancy and World Health Organization recommendations allowing a broader range of qualified health workers to provide such care.

The group also warned that restricting the number of authorized providers could prevent women from obtaining timely medical services, particularly those who face difficulties accessing hospitals.

In addition, HRW urged South Korean lawmakers to ensure that abortion services are covered by the national health insurance system and to enact legislation clarifying abortion rights, and protecting patients and medical providers.

Officials of the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety hold a press briefing on the introduction of abortion pills at the Seoul government complex, in this file photo from Sept. 16, 2026. (Yonhap)

odissy@yna.co.kr (END)

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华盛顿，10 月 26 日（韩联社）——人权观察组织（HRW）敦促韩国确保堕胎药的普及，因为该国将于明年正式引入该药物。人权观察组织称此举是重要的一步，但警告说，限制措施可能会使堕胎服务难以获得。

这家总部位于纽约的国际人权组织在周日发布的新闻稿中表示，首尔政府计划于 2027 年正式引入药物流产，这将有助于解决长期存在的监管空白，但批评了对其使用提出的限制。

“允许使用堕胎药是一个重要的步骤，但韩国立法者需要确保相关法规不会过于严格，导致堕胎难以获得且费用高昂，”人权观察组织代理妇女权利研究助理苏珊娜·伯格斯滕在新闻稿中表示。

她补充说：“韩国国会应该迅速将堕胎立法与国际人权标准接轨，以保护患者和医护人员。”

上个月，韩国政府宣布了一项计划，正式允许怀孕九周以内的女性使用堕胎药，因为在宪法法院 2019 年推翻堕胎禁令后，相关法规仍未修订。

根据该计划，堕胎药最初将被批准在怀孕的前九周内使用，并且在前两年内，只有大型医疗机构的医生才能直接开具和分发该药物。

人权观察组织认为，目前提出的规则与支持在怀孕 12 周内进行药物流产的医疗实践以及世界卫生组织的建议不符，后者允许更多合格的医务人员提供此类护理。

该组织还警告说，限制授权医疗服务提供者的数量可能会阻止妇女及时获得医疗服务，特别是那些难以到达医院的妇女。

此外，人权观察组织敦促韩国立法者确保堕胎服务纳入国家医疗保险体系，并制定法律明确堕胎权利，保护患者和医疗服务提供者。

这张摄于2026年9月16日的资料照片显示，韩国食品药品安全部官员在首尔政府大楼举行新闻发布会，介绍堕胎药的引进情况。（韩联社）

odissy@yna.co.kr (完)

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政府计划允许进口堕胎药，引发各方反应不一

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