Women's rights groups have strongly condemned remarks by Representative Yoon Yong-geun of the ruling People Power Party, who opposed the domestic introduction of the abortion pill Mifegyne by comparing it to narcotics.
In a statement, the Korea Women's Political Network denounced Yoon's remarks as demonstrating "a crude level of human rights and gender sensitivity that turns a blind eye to women's right to health," urging politicians to "stop using women's bodies as tools for political rhetoric."
The organization emphasized that Mifegyne is a medically proven drug that has been used across global healthcare systems for decades since its approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2000.
"Comparing an established, clinically proven medication to narcotics stems either from sheer ignorance that fails to distinguish medicine from illicit drugs, or from intentional distortion," the group criticized.
"The introduction of Mifegyne means bringing it under a strict healthcare framework, complete with doctor consultations and precise dosage instructions," the group pointed out, adding, "It is fundamentally different from legalizing narcotics."
Addressing parliament, the organization further stated, "The approval of safe medicines must not be delayed under the pretext of an ongoing legislative vacuum." It stressed that the minimum duty of the state is to support childbirth for women who choose to carry pregnancies to term while ensuring timely and safe medical services for those who decide to terminate a pregnancy.
During a National Assembly interpellation session yesterday (September 15), Yoon sparked fierce backlash by asking Prime Minister Han Seong-sook, "Isn't calling to make Mifegyne available basically the same thing as arguing we should legalize narcotics just because some citizens use drugs?"
Prime Minister Han pushed back against the lawmaker's assertion, responding, "The two cases are vastly different," and adding, "The introduction of Mifegyne is a system that should be established for young women, and the government ought to apologize for neglecting this issue over the past seven years."
(Reported by Lee Hyeon-yeong | Video by Seo Byeong-uk | Design by Yang Hye-min | Produced by SBS Digital News)
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