No legal barriers, no safe options: Navigating safe abortion in post-decriminalisation South Korea

Abstract On 1 January 2021, South Korea decriminalised abortion, overturning laws that had penalised women and medical practitioners since 1953. Despite this milestone, universal access to safe abortion services remains elusive. This paper investigates the post-decriminalisation abortion landscape in South Korea, focusing on how lingering legacies of state-led population control policies and developmentalist priorities continue to hinder meaningful legal and policy reforms. Abortion remains marginalised in public healthcare policies, reflecting a broader neglect of reproductive health and autonomy. Furthermore, recent legal frameworks addressing unwanted pregnancies undermine abortion rights under the guise of protecting vulnerable women in crisis pregnancies. Drawing on the ongoing struggles of reproductive justice activists in South Korea, this paper examines their efforts to push for comprehensive reforms that address systemic issues and advance sexual and reproductive health and rights.