Gov't announces plans to formally introduce abortion pills

The government on Wednesday announced plans to formally allow abortion pills for women up to nine weeks pregnant. The ministries of gender equality, health and food and drug safety said the move is meant to reduce health and safety risks created by an unrevised legal framework after the Constitutional Court struck down the abortion ban in 2019. The plan starts with hospital-based prescription and dispensing for two years before shifting to doctor prescriptions and pharmacy dispensing.

The food and drug safety ministry said it has received applications for approval of abortion pills for women up to nine weeks pregnant.

The ministry said it will vet the pills for safety and quality before proceeding.

A drug ministry official said the government aims to introduce the pills within the first quarter next year if related procedures are completed.

Prime Minister Han Seong-sook said some women are resorting to dangerous methods and said the issue should not be left unattended.

Han said the measure is meant to protect public health rather than encourage abortion, while also acknowledging concerns regarding the value of life.

Published Sep 16, 2026 10:30 am KST

Updated Sep 16, 2026 3:24 pm KST

Gender Equality Minister Won Min-kyong enters a government policy coordination meeting at the Government Complex Seoul, Wednesday. Yonhap

The government on Wednesday announced plans 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 striking down of the abortion ban.

The ministries of gender equality, health and food and drug safety reported the plans at a government policy coordination meeting, noting the institutional vacuum has created risks to women's health and safety.

Under the plan, abortion pills will be introduced in phases, with both prescription and dispensing taking place directly at hospitals for the first two years.

Prime Minister Han Seong-sook speaks during a government policy coordination meeting at the Government Complex Seoul, Wednesday. Yonhap

When necessary conditions are fulfilled, the system will shift to doctors prescribing and pharmacies dispensing.

The food and drug safety ministry said it has received applications for approval of abortion pills for use by women up to nine weeks pregnant and that it will vet their safety and quality before proceeding.

"Our goal is to introduce the pills within the first quarter next year on the condition related procedures are fully carried out," a drug ministry official said in a separate briefing.

Some women are resorting to "dangerous methods," and the problem should no longer be left unattended because it amounts to neglecting the people's lives and safety, Prime Minister Han Seong-sook said during the meeting.

"Safety is more important than anything else," she said. "We must come up with measures to help women in need to receive treatment within the safe medical system, rather than having to rely on unverified methods."

Han said the government is seriously taking "concerns regarding the value of life" too.

"This measure is aimed at protecting the people's health rather than encouraging abortion. We ask for your broad understanding of this intent," she said.

The formal introduction of abortion pills is one of the administrative tasks set by the Lee Jae Myung government. The initiative got a boost after Lee instructed the government in July to look into ways to allow women to safely take abortion pills even before the necessary legal framework is in place.

政府周三宣布计划正式允许怀孕九周以内的女性服用堕胎药。性别平等部、卫生部以及食品药品安全部表示，此举旨在降低宪法法院于2019年推翻堕胎禁令后，因法律框架未作修订而造成的健康和安全风险。该计划初期两年内将由医院开具处方并配药，之后将过渡到医生开具处方并在药房配药。

食品药品安全部表示，已收到批准对怀孕九周以内妇女使用堕胎药的申请。

该部表示，在进行下一步之前，将对这些药片的安全性和质量进行审查。

药品部官员表示，如果相关程序完成，政府计划在明年第一季度推出这些药片。

韩国总理韩成淑表示，一些女性正在采取危险的避孕方式，并表示这个问题不应被忽视。

韩表示，这项措施旨在保护公众健康，而不是鼓励堕胎，同时也承认人们对生命价值的担忧。

发布于2026年9月16日上午10:30（韩国标准时间）

更新于2026年9月16日下午3:24（韩国标准时间）

周三，性别平等部长官元珉京在首尔政府大楼参加政府政策协调会议。（韩联社）

政府周三宣布计划正式允许怀孕九周以内的妇女使用堕胎药，此前宪法法院在 2019 年推翻了堕胎禁令，但相关法规仍未修订。

性别平等部、卫生部和食品药品安全部在政府政策协调会议上报告了这些计划，并指出制度真空给妇女的健康和安全带来了风险。

根据该计划，堕胎药将分阶段引入，前两年处方和配药都将在医院直接进行。

周三，韩国总理韩成淑在首尔政府大楼举行的政府政策协调会议上发表讲话。（韩联社）

当必要条件满足时，系统将转变为医生开处方、药房配药。

食品药品安全部表示，已收到批准怀孕九周以内女性使用的堕胎药的申请，并将对其安全性和质量进行审查后再做决定。

“我们的目标是在明年第一季度推出这些药片，前提是相关程序完全完成，”药品部一位官员在另一次简报会上表示。

韩国总理韩成淑在会议上表示，一些女性正在诉诸“危险手段”，这个问题不应再被忽视，因为这等同于漠视人民的生命安全。

“安全比什么都重要，”她说。“我们必须采取措施，帮助有需要的女性在安全的医疗体系内接受治疗，而不是依赖未经证实的方法。”

韩表示，政府也高度重视“对生命价值的关切”。

“这项措施旨在保护人民健康，而不是鼓励堕胎。我们希望大家能够充分理解这一意图。”她说道。

正式引入堕胎药是李在明政府设定的行政任务之一。今年7月，李在明指示政府研究如何在必要的法律框架尚未完善的情况下，让女性能够安全服用堕胎药，此举推动了该项工作的进展。