South Korea

Access to abortion is a fundamental human right and a basic healthcare. If you live in a country where access to abortion is restricted, you can get abortion pills through Women on Web.

Abortion on request is not authorized. It is permitted up to 24 weeks in cases of rape, incest, intellectual or cognitive disability of the woman, if the woman's spouse suffers from any eugenic or genetic mental disability, physical disease or contagious disease prescribed by Presidential Decree, if the pregnancy endangers the woman or person's health or where the maintenance of pregnancy severely injures or might injure the health of the pregnant. It is also permitted in case of fetal impairment. For this case, no limitation regarding the lengths of pregnancy is mentioned in the legal text.

A married person needs spousal consent to proceed with their abortion request.
Medical practitioners and providers have the right to refuse abortion services based on personal beliefs. However, medical practitioners and providers are obligated to refer individuals to another provider if they refuse service. So-called conscientious objection cannot be practiced if the life of the woman or pregnant person is at risk.

Despite abortion being permitted, abortion pills are not registered and an abortion with pills might not be available.

Mifepristone is not officially registered by the country’s pharmaceutical authority.

Misoprostol is officially registered by the country’s pharmaceutical authority.

It is not registered for gynecological indications (such as birth, miscarriage treatment or abortion care etc.), but is registered for other purposes (such as arthritis or gastric ulcers etc.)

A doctor's prescription may be required to get Misoprostol.

There is no data on regulations around the distribution of Misoprostol available.

These are brand names under which Mifepristone, Misoprostol or Combi Packs (that contain both abortion pills Mifepristone and Misoprostol) are officially distributed and/or commonly found in the country.

Mifepristone:
-

Misoprostol:
Gasteck,
Gastotec,
Misel,
Gistol,
Cytotec 200mcg (싸이토텍정 200mcg),
Alsoben 100mcg (알소벤정100mcg),
Misoprostol Tab Nelson 200mcg (한국넬슨미소프로스톨정 200mcg)

Combipack:
-

Safety notice: There are pills that contain a combination of Misoprostol and the painkiller Diclofenac. While manufactured for a different purpose they can still be used for abortion. Please find more info in our FAQ to avoid overdosing the Diclofenac.

These are comments about the estimated cost of abortion pills in your country.

1. “Combipack : About 300$ in black market. Miso only (including prescription and pill) : About 10$" - Dr. Jungwon Yoon / OBGYN doctor of National medical center - November 2022

The actual costs of abortion pills are often difficult to determine, vary and change over time. Fill out our questionnaire to add and share your experience.

1. “Mifepristone hasn't been registered yet, but black market exists. Also people are contacting NGOs, such as WOW , WHW. Various types of combipack are available in black market. Misoprostol is registered for ulcer medication in KFDA, so using miso for abortion or PPH is off-label. Access to Misoprostol is not difficult, not easy. Because it's off-label (not used for its official registration purpose), Doctors (including primary physician, OBGYN specialist) are reluctant to prescribe it.” Dr. Jungwon Yoon / OBGYN doctor of National medical center - November 2022
2. "Misoprostol is difficult to access just from the pharmacies.
   It might be prescribed from the doctor if the doctor finds it necessary to do so. ( but still difficult)" - Anonymous - November 2022
3. "People can access Mifepristone via Internet, but some sellers are not safe and do not know/give the right instructions. This can be (legally) risky if people take the pills unknowingly if there pregnancy is very far along (for example 20 weeks)" - Anonymous - November 2022