South Korea announces phased plan to introduce abortion pills

South Korea's government announced a phased plan to introduce abortion pills for pregnancies up to nine weeks, aiming to address a legal vacuum that has persisted since the Constitutional Court struck down the country's abortion ban in 2019. Prime Minister Han Seongsook outlined the policy at a government policy coordination meeting on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, stating that the prolonged absence of a regulated system has exposed some women to dangerous methods. The plan is contingent on regulatory approval from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, which is reviewing an application from Hyundai Pharm to import Mifegymiso, a combination pack of mifepristone and misoprostol. The ministry aims to introduce the medication within the first quarter of 2027. Under the phased approach, for the first two years, both prescription and dispensing will occur directly at hospitals. If necessary safeguards are established, the system will later shift to a standard model where doctors prescribe and pharmacies dispense the medication.