Kim Hyun-bin began his journalism career at Arirang TV from 2012 to 2017, specializing in defense, foreign affairs and the economy. In 2018, he joined The Korea Times, covering society and business, and is currently responsible for embassy affairs.
More women turn to illegal abortion drugs
By Kim Hyun-bin
With one month passing since the OB-GYN doctors' abortion boycott, more women have been found taking illegal abortion drugs as their next best alternative.
On Aug. 17, the Ministry of Health and Welfare included abortion as an “immoral medical practice” and came up with a plan to impose a one-month license suspension on doctors who conduct the procedure.
In response, on Aug. 28, 2,500 OB-GYN doctors in the country started a boycott on all abortions.
Transactions are usually made online for the drugs, which are banned from being prescribed or sold in the country.
When searching for an abortion pill on an online portal, roughly 10 links are shown that lead to the drug vendors and the cost can go up to 600,000 won ($540) a pill.
The most typical abortive drug in the country is Mifegyne. The drug was developed by a French pharmaceutical company in 1988 and is sold in 61 countries around the globe including Germany, the U.S., England and Sweden.
One of the sites used to sell around 40 Mifegyne pills before the doctors' boycott, but since then that number has nearly doubled to over 70.
Experts point out taking illegal abortion pills is a critical health risk.
“If the woman was going through ectopic pregnancy and consumes Mifegyne it could lead to a critical accident. Even if the pill is legitimate, there could be side effects so it should be prescribed after consulting a doctor,” said Kim Dong-seok, president of the Korean Association of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.
“Selling abortion drugs is illegal in the country but I don't know why the government is leaving the matter unattended. They should crack down on online sites and block them.”
The most critical problem is fake pills that have been circulating and consumed by women, which could cause excessive bleeding and heart problems.
“Countries that legalize abortion pills go through a certified distribution channel securing its safety,” said Kim Young-hee, chairman of public relations at the Korean Pharmaceutical Association. “There is a big chance the abortive pills in the country are fake, so people should not buy or consume the pills.”
Although the health ministry announced it would postpone the crackdown, the OB-GYN doctors continue to boycott the procedures.
The law was implemented in 1953, but has rarely resulted in prosecution.