A South Korean vlogger sparked outrage after she claimed that she terminated her pregnancy at nine months. The woman's identity has not been revealed, but she is now under investigation for murder, with the case causing shockwaves across South Korea. The incident has raised questions about South Korea's abortion laws, as there are currently no regulations governing them.
Seoul National Police began investigating the woman in July, according to CNN. The probe was launched at the request of the South Korean government after she posted a video on YouTube documenting her abortion experience, the police said.
Abortion after 24 weeks is typically banned in many parts of the world. However, in South Korea, there are no laws governing abortion procedures. This, however, has not always been the case. Till about four years ago, abortion was a criminal offence in South Korea, punishable by up to two years in prison. There were exceptions to the rule, however, for cases involving rape, incest, or threats to the life of the mother or baby.
In 2019, South Korea's Constitutional Court overturned the ban and instructed the National Assembly to frame new laws by the end of 2020. The court recommended a term limit of 22 weeks. However, the legislature failed to meet the deadline. This meant the ban had been overturned without any new law in its place, effectively legalising abortion at any stage of pregnancy.
In June this year, South Korea's Ministry of Justice said, "The direction, details, and timing of the revision of the country's abortion laws is still undecided". The ministry added that it must consult with the Health and Welfare Ministry, which oversees the Maternal and Child Health Act.
"The Ministry of Justice will do its best to discuss the issue so that the right to life of the fetus, and the right to health and the right to self-determination of the pregnant woman can be harmonised," the statement said.