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South Korea: Difference between revisions

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Generally speaking, South Korea has high-quality and varied medical services. The most options are available in larger cities, such as [[Seoul]] and [[Busan]]. Some contraceptive options, such as condoms and birth control pills, can be purchased at pharmacies with no prescription (over-the-counter). However, you will need a doctor's prescription for emergency contraception (the morning after pill). While many facilities offer STI/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. Abortion became legal in South Korea in January 2021, following a April 2019 ruling that ruled it was unconstitutional to criminalize abortion.<ref>[https://www.humanrightspulse.com/mastercontentblog/south-korea-decriminalises-abortion-a-historic-moment-in-womens-rights South Korea Decriminalises Abortion: A Historic Moment In Women's Rights]</ref><ref>[https://www.ippf.org/news/win-womens-rights-south-korea-decriminalizes-abortion-care A win for women's rights: South Korea decriminalizes abortion care]</ref>
Generally speaking, South Korea has high-quality and varied medical services. The most options are available in larger cities, such as [[Seoul]] and [[Busan]]. Some contraceptive options, such as condoms and birth control pills, can be purchased at pharmacies with no prescription (over-the-counter). However, you will need a doctor's prescription for emergency contraception (the morning after pill). While many facilities offer STI/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. Abortion became legal in South Korea in January 2021, following an April 2019 ruling that ruled it was unconstitutional to criminalize abortion.<ref>[https://www.humanrightspulse.com/mastercontentblog/south-korea-decriminalises-abortion-a-historic-moment-in-womens-rights South Korea Decriminalises Abortion: A Historic Moment In Women's Rights]</ref><ref>[https://www.ippf.org/news/win-womens-rights-south-korea-decriminalizes-abortion-care A win for women's rights: South Korea decriminalizes abortion care]</ref>


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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> The word for pharmacy is 약국 (yak-guk)<ref name="koreahealth_bc">[https://www.koreahealthpages.com/article/birth-control-and-the-morning-after-pill-in-south-korea.html Birth Control and The Morning After Pill in South Korea]</ref> and the word for birth control pills is 피임약 (pee-im yak).<ref name="thisone_skbc">[https://thisonelittledid.com/2017/12/05/birth-control-pills-korea/  Birth Control in South Korea: A How-To Guide for Foreigners]</ref> One of the most common birth control brands is Mercilon (머시론).<ref name="thisone_skbc" /> Other common brands are Meliane and Levonorgestrel.<ref name="koreahealth_bc" />
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> The word for pharmacy is 약국 (yak-guk)<ref name="koreahealth_bc">[https://www.koreahealthpages.com/article/birth-control-and-the-morning-after-pill-in-south-korea.html Birth Control and The Morning After Pill in South Korea]</ref> and the word for birth control pills is 피임약 (pee-im yak).<ref name="thisone_skbc">[https://thisonelittledid.com/2017/12/05/birth-control-pills-korea/  Birth Control in South Korea: A How-To Guide for Foreigners]</ref> One of the most common birth control brands is Mercilon (머시론).<ref name="thisone_skbc" /> Other common brands are Meliane and Levonorgestrel.<ref name="koreahealth_bc" />


It is important to note that 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 (a birth control pill brand). However, for other forms of birth control, such as contraceptive implants, injectables, and IUDs, you may need to directly visit a hospital or clinic to obtain them.
It is important to note that some contraceptive options may require a prescription. For example, birth control pill brands such as Yasmin or Yaz may require a prescription. Meanwhile, other forms of birth control, such as contraceptive implants, injectables, and IUDs, typically require that you visit a health care provider in order to receive them.


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* You can purchase '''condoms''' in convenience stores, pharmacies, Olive Young, Watson's, and sometimes in subway vending machines.
* In Korean, '''birth control pills''' are 피임약 (pronounced "pi-im yak"), and they can be purchased in pharmacies. You can just walk into a pharmacy and ask for birth control pills, which are sold over-the-counter (no prescription required).
* In Korean, '''birth control pills''' are 피임약 (pronounced "pi-im yak"), and they can be purchased in pharmacies. You can just walk into a pharmacy and ask for birth control pills, which are sold over-the-counter (no prescription required).
* If you want a prescription for birth control pills, or if you require a contraceptive that requires a prescription, you can go to a women’s hospital (여성의원). You can visit the [https://expatguidekorea.com/k:women%2527s+hospital Expat Guide Korea website for Women's Hospital] options. If you don't speak Korean, you may want to visit an international hospital or clinic, which will have staff that speak different languages.<ref name="koreahealth_bc" />
* If you want a prescription for birth control pills, or if you require a contraceptive that requires a prescription, you can go to a women’s hospital (여성의원). You can visit the [https://expatguidekorea.com/k:women%2527s+hospital Expat Guide Korea website for Women's Hospital] options. If you don't speak Korean, you may want to visit an international hospital or clinic, which will have staff that speak different languages.<ref name="koreahealth_bc" />
* The most popular birth control pill 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.  
* The most popular birth control pill 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.
* It appears that you can get the '''Nuvaring''' in South Korea, but we don't have much information on this (anyone?).
* It appears that you can get the '''Nuvaring''' in South Korea, but we don't have much information on this (anyone?).
* You can get an '''intra-uterine device (IUD)''' in South Korea. In Korean, it is 자궁 내 장치. There are multiple options available, including copper, hormonal (Mirena), and Skyla.<ref name="bciud_sk_expatguide" />
* 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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