Abortion Pills Used in 101 Countries; 33 of 38 OECD Nations Permit Access

Oral abortion medication, for which President Lee Jae-myung recently ordered a review of authorization plans, is currently used in 101 countries worldwide, with 87% of member states in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) allowing its use.

According to the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, as of 2024, oral abortion medication is permitted in 101 countries around the world.

The use of such medication began in France in 1988, followed by the United Kingdom in 1991 and Sweden in 1992. By 1999, it had been introduced in 15 countries, including Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, Russia, Spain, and Switzerland.

The United States approved the use of abortion medication in 2000, followed by Australia in 2012, Canada in 2015, and Japan in 2023.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) allows abortion medication to be purchased at pharmacies without a doctor's prescription or received via mail delivery.

In June 2024, the U.S. Supreme Court unanimously rejected a lawsuit filed by anti-abortion groups seeking to restrict access to abortion medication.

Looking specifically at the OECD, abortion medication is available in 33 out of 38 member countries, with only five countries—South Korea, Poland, Turkey, Slovakia, and Costa Rica—maintaining a ban.

Commonly known by the brand name Mifegyne, abortion medication consists of mifepristone, which blocks the hormone necessary to maintain pregnancy, and misoprostol, which induces uterine contractions.

Both substances were included in the World Health Organization (WHO) Model List of Essential Medicines in 2005.

The WHO estimates that the use of abortion medication can prevent deaths and illnesses caused by the fact that 45% of abortions worldwide are performed in unsafe ways.

The WHO emphasizes that "ensuring access to abortion care reduces maternal mortality and protects the dignity of pregnant individuals and girls."

This is not the first time there have been attempts to introduce abortion medication in South Korea.

Hyundai Pharm, which holds the domestic distribution rights, has applied for product approval from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety three times since July 2021, but it has yet to be approved.

It is reported that the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety maintains the position that product approval can only proceed if there is a legal basis.

Since the Constitutional Court issued a decision of non-conformity regarding the abortion law in April 2019 and no substitute legislation was enacted by the end of 2020, the legal deadline, a legal vacuum has persisted for six years.

In relation to this, the Korea Women's Associations United argued in a commentary on July 15 that "the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety claims it cannot grant sales approval because the relevant law has not been revised, but it has actually delayed the introduction while hiding the fact that it received multiple legal opinions stating there are no issues with introduction under current law."

However, as President Lee remarked at a cabinet meeting on July 14 to the effect of granting medical professionals discretion to use abortion medication even before the relevant law is revised, consultations between relevant ministries are expected to take place soon.

Minister of Gender Equality Won Min-kyung said during a pre-briefing for the presidential work report on July 15, "Following the President's remarks, discussions among relevant ministries will be held more actively under the leadership of the Office for Government Policy Coordination."

(Photo: Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.