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===Laws & Social Stigmas===
===Laws & Social Stigmas===


Abortion is illegal in South Korea, except in special cases. While the original law in 1953 restricted all abortion, this was changed in 1973 under the Maternal and Child Health Law.  
Abortion is illegal in South Korea, except in special cases. While the original law in 1953 restricted all abortion, this was changed in 1973 under the Maternal and Child Health Law. With these changes, an abortion could be performed by a physician if 1) the pregnant woman or her spouse suffer from a hereditary mental/physical disease specified by Presidential Decree 2) the pregnant woman or her spouse suffer from a communicable disease specified by Presidential Decree 3) the pregnancy was caused by rape or incest 4) the continuation of the pregnancy threatens the woman's life. In all other cases, abortion is illegal and a woman who induces her own abortion may be subject to imprisonment for one year or a fine. Medical personnel who illegally induce an abortion may face up to two years of imprisonment.  
With these changes, an abortion could be performed by a physician if 1) the pregnant woman or her spouse suffer from a hereditary mental/physical disease specified by Presidential Decree 2) the pregnant woman or her spouse suffer from a communicable disease specified by Presidential Decree 3) the pregnancy was caused by rape or incest 4) the continuation of the pregnancy threatens the woman's life. In all other cases, abortion is illegal and a woman who induces her own abortion may be subject to imprisonment for one year or a fine. Medical personnel who illegally induce an abortion may face up to two years of imprisonment.  


However, Misoprostol (the abortion pill) seems to be available as Misel. It's not clear if you need to buy it online or if you can get it in select hospitals. To get abortion pill online, contact [http://www.womenonweb.org Women on Web] for instructions. To try to find the pill or other services in Seoul, check out the next section below.
However, Misoprostol (the abortion pill) seems to be available as Misel. It's not clear if you need to buy it online or if you can get it in select hospitals. To get abortion pill online, contact [http://www.womenonweb.org Women on Web] for instructions. To try to find the pill or other services in Seoul, check out the next section below.
If you're interested in obtaining an abortion in an East Asian country with more lenient abortion laws, you may want to check out [[Japan]], [[China]], [[Hong Kong]], or [[Vietnam]].


If you would like to read personal accounts of getting an abortion in Korea, check out these links:
If you would like to read personal accounts of getting an abortion in Korea, check out these links:

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