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Seoul: Difference between revisions

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Seoul (view source)

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As the largest city in South Korea, Seoul has fantastic and varied medical services. Contraceptives can be purchased at pharmacies over-the-counter though you need a doctor's prescription for emergency contraception. While many facilities offer STD tests, it is important to exercise caution and choose anonymous testing centers. If you are a foreigner and test positive for HIV/AIDS or syphilis, you will most likely be deported from South Korea. While abortion is illegal, there are accounts of women secretly obtaining abortions. If you are pregnant and have the means to travel, it is advisable to seek abortions elsewhere, such as in mainland [[China]], [[Hong Kong]] or [[Japan]].  
As the largest city in South Korea, Seoul has advanced and varied medical services. Contraceptives can be purchased at pharmacies over-the-counter though you need a doctor's prescription for emergency contraception. While many facilities offer STI tests, it is important to exercise caution and choose anonymous testing centers. If you are a foreigner and test positive for HIV/AIDS or syphilis, you will most likely be deported from South Korea. While abortion is illegal, there are accounts of women secretly obtaining abortions. If you are pregnant and have the means to travel, it is advisable to seek abortions elsewhere, such as in mainland [[China]], [[Hong Kong]] or [[Japan]].  


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Contraceptives are completely legal in South Korea, and they can typically be purchased without a prescription.<ref>[http://ocsotc.org/wp-content/uploads/worldmap/worldmap.html Global Oral Contraception Availability]</ref> You can buy many birth control brands, like Mercilon, without a prescription at pharmacies (if you ask the pharmacist for it). However, some contraceptive brands may require a prescription. For example, a female backpacker said that South Korean pharmacists told her that she needed a prescription for Yasmin.
In South Korea, you can purchase condoms and birth control pills at pharmacies without a prescription.<ref>[http://ocsotc.org/wp-content/uploads/worldmap/worldmap.html Global Oral Contraception Availability]</ref> <ref>[http://freethepill.org/where-on-earth/ Free the Pill: Where on Earth?]</ref> You can buy many birth control brands, like Mercilon, without a prescription at pharmacies (if you ask the pharmacist for it). However, some contraceptive brands may require a prescription. For example, a female backpacker said that South Korean pharmacists told her that she needed a prescription for Yasmin. However, for other forms of birth control, such as implants, injectables, and IUDs, you may need to directly visit a hospital or clinic to obtain them.


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In 2012, President Pak Geun-Hye and his conservative government announced that the Korean Food & Drug Administration was considering reclassification of birth control pills, which would make the pills prescription-only. This caused public outrage and wide online discussion of the issue. Three months later, the proposal was dropped. It was decided to put the reclassification on hold for three years -- and, to this day, it seems to remain on hold. As reported in Korea Bang, "Asides from the 'woman’s right to choose' argument, one of the reasons Korean women get upset over the issue is perhaps cultural: unmarried Korean women rarely visit a gynaecologist. Even when seriously ill, a visit to a gynaecology clinic would be reluctant for fear of the disapproving stares around them. That’s not to mention the social pressure on Korean women to remain sexually naïve."<ref>[http://www.koreabang.com/2012/stories/law-on-contraceptive-pill-changes.html Law on Contraceptive Pill Changes]</ref>
In 2012, President Pak Geun-Hye and her conservative government announced that the Korean Food & Drug Administration was considering reclassification of birth control pills, which would make the pills prescription-only. This caused public outrage and wide online discussion of the issue. Three months later, the proposal was dropped. It was decided to put the reclassification on hold for three years -- and, to this day, it seems to remain on hold. As reported in Korea Bang, "Asides from the 'woman’s right to choose' argument, one of the reasons Korean women get upset over the issue is perhaps cultural: unmarried Korean women rarely visit a gynaecologist. Even when seriously ill, a visit to a gynaecology clinic would be reluctant for fear of the disapproving stares around them. That’s not to mention the social pressure on Korean women to remain sexually naïve."<ref>[http://www.koreabang.com/2012/stories/law-on-contraceptive-pill-changes.html Law on Contraceptive Pill Changes]</ref>


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* For a comprehensive list of contraceptive options in South Korea, click [http://contraceptive.ippf.org/search?search.searchtext=&search.component=&search.countrycode=KR here].
* In Korean, '''birth control pills''' are 피임약 (pronounced "pi-im yak"), and they can be purchased in pharmacies. The most popular brand in South Korea is Mercilon (머시론), which is produced by Merck (an American pharmaceutical company). However, there are many other pill options, including Alesse, Diane-35, Meliane, Minivlar, Minulet, Myvlar, Sexcon, Triquilar, Yasmin and Yaz.<ref>[http://contraceptive.ippf.org/search?search.searchtext=&search.component=&search.countrycode=KR IPPF South Korea]</ref> There's also 에이리스, which is a low hormone option, costs about 10,000 won for a 21-pill pack. Another brand is  멜리안정 (me-li-an-jung), but some users have reported loss of sex drive. There's also 센스리베.  
* In Korean, '''birth control pills''' are 피임약 (pronounced "pi-im yak"), and they can be purchased in pharmacies. The most popular brand in South Korea is Mercilon (머시론), which is produced by Merck (an American pharmaceutical company). However, there are many other pill options, including Alesse, Diane-35, Meliane, Minivlar, Minulet, Myvlar, Sexcon, Triquilar, Yasmin and Yaz.<ref>[http://contraceptive.ippf.org/search?search.searchtext=&search.component=&search.countrycode=KR IPPF South Korea]</ref> There's also 에이리스, which is a low hormone option, costs about 10,000 won for a 21-pill pack. Another brand is  멜리안정 (me-li-an-jung), but some users have reported loss of sex drive. There's also 센스리베.  
* You can purchase '''condoms''' in convenience stores, pharmacies, Olive Young, Watson's, and sometimes in subway vending machines.
* You can purchase '''condoms''' in convenience stores, pharmacies, Olive Young, Watson's, and sometimes in subway vending machines.
* You can get the '''Nuvaring''' in South Korea, but only at large pharmacies and they need to order it one day in advance because it is a rare request. It is not kept in stock. It considered only for young women, so a pharmacy near a university is a good option. One pharmacy that can definitely get it it is the one located next door to Miz Medi hospital on Dogok-ro in Daechi-dong, half way between the Hanti and Daechi stops. Please note that NuvaRing is NOT covered by the Korean national insurance, unlike other birth controls.  
* You can get the '''Nuvaring''' in South Korea, but only at large pharmacies and they need to order it one day in advance because it is a rare request. It is not kept in stock. It considered only for young women, so a pharmacy near a university is a good option. One pharmacy that can definitely get it it is the one located next door to Miz Medi hospital on Dogok-ro in Daechi-dong, half way between the Hanti and Daechi stops. Please note that NuvaRing is NOT covered by the Korean national insurance, unlike other birth controls. Nuvaring will be discontinued in June, 2018.
* If you want the '''contraceptive patch''', Evra (produced by Janssen-Cilag) should be available in South Korea.<ref>[http://contraceptive.ippf.org/search?search.searchtext=&search.component=&search.countrycode=KR IPPF South Korea]</ref>
* If you want the '''contraceptive patch''', Evra (produced by Janssen-Cilag) should be available in South Korea.<ref>[http://contraceptive.ippf.org/search?search.searchtext=&search.component=&search.countrycode=KR IPPF South Korea]</ref>
* If you want the '''contraceptive implant''', Implanon (produced by Merck) should be available in South Korea.<ref>[http://contraceptive.ippf.org/search?search.searchtext=&search.component=&search.countrycode=KR IPPF South Korea]</ref>
* If you want the '''contraceptive implant''', Implanon (produced by Merck) should be available in South Korea.<ref>[http://contraceptive.ippf.org/search?search.searchtext=&search.component=&search.countrycode=KR IPPF South Korea]</ref>
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* [http://khap.org/ Korea Federation for HIV/AIDS Prevention (KHAP)]: Provides free & anonymous tests for HIV, syphilis, gonorrhea, urethritis. Their HIV test are only for foreigners ("Our Testing both HIV Rapid and STD at any centers is offering basically for foreigners, not Koreans. Koreans are not available."). Reservation required by phone or website. Address: 30-6. Donam 1-dong Seongbuk-gu. 136-890. SEOUL KOREA ㆍTEL.82-2-927-4322 ㆍFax.82-2-927-4017, E-mail:khap@kaids.or.kr.
* [http://khap.org/ Korea Federation for HIV/AIDS Prevention (KHAP)]: Provides free & anonymous tests for HIV, syphilis, gonorrhea, urethritis. Their HIV tests are only for foreigners ("Our Testing both HIV Rapid and STD at any centers is offering basically for foreigners, not Koreans. Koreans are not available."). Reservation required by phone or website. Address: 30-6. Donam 1-dong Seongbuk-gu. 136-890. SEOUL KOREA ㆍTEL.82-2-927-4322 ㆍFax.82-2-927-4017, E-mail:khap@kaids.or.kr.


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While tampons are available, they are not sold everywhere, as most South Korean women only use them for swimming.
The most commonly used menstrual product in South Korea is pads/pantyliners.  While tampons are available, they are not sold everywhere, as most South Korean women only use them for swimming.
 
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As of October 2017, South Korea still does not officially permit the sale of menstrual cups. While the country manufactures menstrual cups that are sold to other countries, the government has not approved of such sales within South Korea.<ref>[http://helloflo.com/menstrual-cups-that-are-made-in-south-korea-can-be-sold-in-the-us-but-not-in-south-korea/ Menstrual Cups That Are Made In South Korea Can Be Sold In The US, But Not In South Korea]</ref>
 
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There is a movement of DIY menstrual products, partially in reaction to the expensive prices of menstrual products in the country. To learn more about the movement, click [https://qz.com/995025/an-outcry-over-diy-period-pads-has-sparked-a-national-menstruation-conversation-in-korea/ here].


===What to Get & Where to Get It=== <!--T:55-->
===What to Get & Where to Get It=== <!--T:55-->
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===Costs=== <!--T:57-->
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* The cost of pads/sanitary napkins (the most common menstrual product in South Korea) is expensive, and the prices continue to rise. On GMarket (the largest ecommerce site in South Korea), a 10-pack of pads costs 2,700원 , as of December 2017. This is more expensive than in many other developed countries. Meanwhile, some pad brands have experienced up to a 42% price increase between 2016 and 2017. To learn more about concerns related to pricing, click [https://qz.com/995025/an-outcry-over-diy-period-pads-has-sparked-a-national-menstruation-conversation-in-korea/ here].


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==Gynecological Exams== <!--T:58-->
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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'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]], [[Vietnam]] or [[Cambodia]].


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===What to Get & Where to Get It=== <!--T:76-->
===What to Get & Where to Get It=== <!--T:76-->
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* Note: Check out this useful [https://docs.google.com/document/d/1-6t0A-um1_tODApRTc20pwpx0kJozzGsu_ytpQUteno/mobilebasic guide] to getting an abortion in South Korea, written in 2017.


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* [http://www.womenonweb.org Women on Web]: Contact them for Misoprostol.
* [http://www.womenonweb.org Women on Web]: Contact them for Misoprostol.
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* Here's a list of countries in the region that provide abortion on request: [[China]], [[Vietnam]], [[Cambodia]].


===Costs=== <!--T:81-->
===Costs=== <!--T:81-->
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