- 'Mifegymiso', not 'Mifegyne', scheduled for introduction in Q1 next year
- Prescribed within 9 weeks of pregnancy... diagnosed and prescribed by doctors after confirming gestational age
- First used in France; WHO also designated it as an essential medicine
- Damage from illicit distribution, including counterfeit drugs and overdosing... could no longer hesitate
- Deeply apologetic for infringement on women's health rights during the 7-year delay in introduction
- Backlash from religious circles? Persuaded that safe termination of pregnancy must be ensured
- Punishment for doctors? Virtually no possibility due to Constitutional Court decision... will not refuse care
- Health insurance coverage to be actively reviewed by Ministry of Health and Welfare... benefit coverage must be implemented
- Revisions to Mother and Child Health Act and Criminal Act discussed among ministries... will actively support National Assembly
- Identified and blocking illegal filming websites... first achievements to be disclosed today
- Lowering age of juvenile offenders? Meaningful due to public interest; decision after Ministry of Justice survey
- 'Youth in crisis' must be seen as our own children's issue... Helpline 1388

■ Broadcast: SBS Kim Tae-hyun's Political Show (FM 103.5 MHz 7:00 to 9:00)
■ Date: Tuesday, September 22, 2026
■ Host: Lawyer Kim Tae-hyun
■ Guest: Won Min-kyung, Minister of Gender Equality and Family

[Kim Tae-hyun]: The government has officially announced the introduction of pregnancy termination pills. It has been seven years since the Constitutional Court ruled the criminalization of abortion non-conforming to the Constitution. We will speak directly with Won Min-kyung, Minister of Gender Equality and Family, about what this decision means for women and society, the purpose of its introduction, and the remaining issues. Hello, Minister.

[Won Min-kyung]: Hello. I am Won Min-kyung.

[Kim Tae-hyun]: Minister, thank you for joining us. Introducing pregnancy termination medication seems likely to have a very significant impact on our society. The media refers to this as 'Mifegyne,' but the actual name of the drug currently undergoing regulatory review is called 'Mifegymiso.'

[Won Min-kyung]: That is correct.

[Kim Tae-hyun]: Exactly what kind of drug is being introduced?

[Won Min-kyung]: The exact name of the drug is 'Mifegymiso.' Early on, it was widely known as 'Mifegyne' because Mifegyne was the drug first marketed, so people often refer to it as Mifegyne, but the exact name is 'Mifegymiso.'

[Kim Tae-hyun]: This is unfamiliar to many. Could you briefly explain the mechanism by which it terminates a pregnancy?

[Won Min-kyung]: Two medications, mifepristone and misoprostol, work together. One blocks the function of a hormone essential for maintaining pregnancy to shed the uterine lining and end the pregnancy, and the other induces uterine contractions—you can understand it as using these two drugs together.

[Kim Tae-hyun]: Around when are you planning for its introduction?

[Won Min-kyung]: As far as I know, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety is currently considering around the first quarter of next year.

[Kim Tae-hyun]: The first quarter of next year?

[Won Min-kyung]: Yes.

[Kim Tae-hyun]: But surely not just anyone can go and get a prescription for this.

[Won Min-kyung]: That is right. It requires visiting a medical institution so that doctors capable of ensuring women's safety can confirm the gestational age, diagnose, and prescribe the medication. I understand it will be used within up to nine weeks of pregnancy.

[Kim Tae-hyun]: Then within nine weeks of pregnancy, can most expectant mothers receive a prescription by visiting a hospital or obstetrics and gynecology clinic? Or are there specific conditions?

[Won Min-kyung]: Under various circumstances and choices regarding pregnancy termination, women will visit clinics. For those who wish to continue the pregnancy, proper guidance will be provided so they can maintain it, while women who have no choice but to terminate will be able to use this medication.

[Kim Tae-hyun]: I heard that this drug has been used overseas for decades.

[Won Min-kyung]: That is correct.

[Kim Tae-hyun]: Which countries are using this drug?

[Won Min-kyung]: It was first approved for sale in France in 1988. After that, in 2005, the WHO designated it as an essential medicine, and it is currently used in around 100 countries.

[Kim Tae-hyun]: If the WHO has designated it as an essential medicine and around 100 countries are using it, its safety has already been verified. It is not a dangerous drug, right?

[Won Min-kyung]: Yes.

[Kim Tae-hyun]: Then why has its introduction been delayed so long in our country?

[Won Min-kyung]: Many people find it very regrettable.

[Kim Tae-hyun]: Women's groups had been calling for its introduction for a long time, right?

[Won Min-kyung]: That is right. And I believe its introduction has come very late, already more than seven years after the Constitutional Court's decision ruling the criminalization of abortion non-conforming to the Constitution.

[Kim Tae-hyun]: Was there also a lot of opposition this time?

[Won Min-kyung]: This time, various government ministries met with and persuaded the medical and religious communities while continuing internal discussions, and that is how this was achieved.

[Kim Tae-hyun]: You accomplished a major achievement this time, Minister.

[Won Min-kyung]: I did not do it all myself; multiple ministries worked together.

[Kim Tae-hyun]: Still, a long-cherished wish of the women's community was fulfilled during your tenure. Looking back, was there anything particularly difficult while pushing for this introduction?

[Won Min-kyung]: Looking back, rather than it being just difficult, while we feel relieved that it has finally happened even now, women's rights to health and safety had been continually infringed upon during those seven years. And I feel somewhat apologetic that we were unable to build greater consensus and empathy among more citizens. Also, on August 23, 2024, when I was a member of the Discrimination Remedy Committee of the National Human Rights Commission of Korea, we issued a recommendation to the Minister of Health and Welfare or the head of the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety to introduce this medication and inspect overall services so that pregnancy termination drugs could be properly used within the public healthcare system. In that sense, for me personally, having issued that recommendation at the Human Rights Commission and now playing a role in introducing it at an executive government ministry is something I am truly grateful for.

[Kim Tae-hyun]: The President said that the floor still gets wet while fixing a leaking ceiling.

[Won Min-kyung]: That is correct.

[Kim Tae-hyun]: In other words, since a system cannot be designed perfectly, it must be done now if urgent. In fact, when the abortion ban was ruled non-conforming to the Constitution, the path to introducing Mifegyne was opened.

[Won Min-kyung]: It was opened.

[Kim Tae-hyun]: But even though seven years have passed, legislative amendments have not been made. The framework regarding abortion has not been fully designed. Yet, after waiting and waiting, it was decided that it could no longer wait. For you, Minister, as well as the President, what led to the decision to introduce it right now?

[Won Min-kyung]: Ultimately, within Korea's healthcare system that aspires to 'K-Health,' many women suffered serious harm to their health due to illegally distributed drugs because this medication was not permitted. The President made that decision based on the judgment that we could no longer hesitate.

[Kim Tae-hyun]: So, in other words, people could buy it from abroad and bring it in. You mean it has been circulating secretly in the underground market.

[Won Min-kyung]: Yes.

[Kim Tae-hyun]: And rather, because of that, there were many cases where women's health was harmed.

[Won Min-kyung]: Yes. The dosage and administration must be accurate—meaning patients need to visit a clinic for diagnosis and prescription—but having to purchase the drugs through illicit channels, they had no way of knowing whether the medicine was real or fake. In some cases, people took double the dosage, or ended up visiting hospitals due to excessive bleeding from incorrect use.

[Kim Tae-hyun]: Then are you saying it was already that widespread among women?

[Won Min-kyung]: Women who needed it simply had no choice until now—no option for medication abortion.

[Kim Tae-hyun]: Religious circles generally oppose all abortions, don't they?

[Won Min-kyung]: That is correct.

[Kim Tae-hyun]: From the perspective of religious groups, they fundamentally oppose abortion. They seem to voice strong opposition over the right to life and ethics, worrying that using pills instead of undergoing surgery at a hospital makes it too easy and will encourage more abortions. How did you persuade the religious community?

[Won Min-kyung]: We gained their understanding by explaining that women's rights to health and safety were being severely compromised by illegally distributed drugs while this remained outside the authorized public healthcare system. We also persuaded them that when an unsustainable pregnancy must be terminated, it must be terminated safely so that any future pregnancy can also be maintained healthily.

[Kim Tae-hyun]: In the medical community, there are also concerns like this: even though the abortion ban was ruled non-conforming to the Constitution, related laws have not yet been reorganized, so what if we prescribe this and end up being punished later as doctors who performed abortions? There seems to be anxiety that the institutional framework is incomplete.

[Won Min-kyung]: Regarding that matter, through continued interagency consultations, we confirmed that under the intent of the Constitutional Court's non-conformity decision, there is virtually no possibility of doctors facing such punishment. That is why we moved forward with introducing the medication.

[Kim Tae-hyun]: Whether it is surgical abortion or Mifegyne, fundamentally, when we discuss abortion, women's self-determination—

[Won Min-kyung]: The expression 'termination of pregnancy.' Even at the Human Rights Commission, we recommended using 'termination of pregnancy' instead of 'abortion.'

[Kim Tae-hyun]: Understood. Termination of pregnancy. This is an issue where a woman's right to self-determination and a fetus's right to life clash sharply. In Korea, in the United States, and in any country, this is always a source of conflict. What principles does the government hold regarding this?

[Won Min-kyung]: The government considers both—the fetus as well as women's health and right to self-determination—to be important fundamental rights, though certain rights may inevitably take precedence or carry more weight depending on the period. Furthermore, for women who wish to maintain their pregnancy but face difficulty doing so due to social circumstances, society should provide alternative support measures. For those who cannot continue their pregnancy regardless of what support is available, we intend to guarantee their right to make that decision through pregnancy termination pills.

[Kim Tae-hyun]: If hospitals refuse to prescribe them, could the government take any action? It could be seen as a form of refusing medical treatment.

[Won Min-kyung]: We will need to monitor how the medical community responds going forward, but there are about 1,500 obstetrics and gynecology clinics nationwide. Also, if many OB-GYN doctors and medical professionals ultimately stand on the side of patients' health and safety, I believe not many doctors will go so far as to refuse treatment. In addition, when an individual doctor cannot provide care, there are many medical institutions in Korea, so they can guide and refer patients to another facility.

[Kim Tae-hyun]: Minister, fundamentally, as mentioned earlier, the Constitutional Court delivered a decision of non-conformity to the Constitution regarding the abortion ban. Since then, amendments to both the Criminal Act and the Mother and Child Health Act have been proposed, yet the legal framework has remained unresolved for seven years. This is a very critical matter, and I personally find it hard to understand why it has not been settled yet. How do you plan to handle this during your term?

[Won Min-kyung]: Regarding legislation, alongside the introduction of the medication, multiple ministries have also discussed legislative amendments to the Mother and Child Health Act and the Criminal Act. Relevant ministries are discussing this together, but since this ultimately requires collaboration with the National Assembly, our Ministry of Gender Equality will also actively support discussions in the National Assembly.

[Kim Tae-hyun]: Understood. Another crucial issue once it is actually introduced is the price. Will it be covered by national health insurance?

[Won Min-kyung]: The National Human Rights Commission recommended an active review of health insurance coverage on August 23, 2024. Several countries, including the United Kingdom and France, provide health insurance coverage. The Ministry of Health and Welfare also maintains the position that it will review coverage once the pharmaceutical company applies for insurance coverage. Since the medication is currently under review, if an application for health insurance benefits is submitted next year, the Ministry of Health and Welfare is expected to actively review it.

[Kim Tae-hyun]: Yes.

[Won Min-kyung]: From the perspective of accessibility, I believe insurance benefit coverage should be actively applied.

[Kim Tae-hyun]: Understood. Let us look at other pending issues of the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family. Minister, regarding digital sex crimes: from the victims' perspective, deleting illegal recordings to prevent them from spreading is crucial. Are you preparing strong eradication measures in this regard?

[Won Min-kyung]: We already announced very strong measures after launching the Integrated Support Center for Digital Sex Crimes on August 20. But measures are only the beginning, and we will continue to reinforce them. Coincidentally, this afternoon we will hold a session to share the initial outcomes of the measures we established on August 20. I hope you will take an interest in that as well. Basically, under previous deletion and distribution-blocking efforts, materials continued to circulate even after deletion. So we looked into where they were being circulated, identified 6,683 illegal websites, and took steps to block them. We plan to report our first achievements to the public this afternoon.

[Kim Tae-hyun]: Understood. And then there is the issue of juvenile offenders exempt from criminal punishment. This is truly a hot potato. Whether lowering the age of juvenile offenders is right or wrong has been debated since the early 2000s, and as I recall, there is even Constitutional Court case law on this. It has been that hotly contested, and hearing the arguments on each side, they all have merit. The President instructed that lowering the age threshold for juvenile offenders be pursued swiftly, but there also seem to be differing opinions among ministries. The Ministry of Justice likely has one view, and the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family another.

[Won Min-kyung]: Rather than differences between ministries right now, the Ministry of Justice is conducting a survey. Regarding the issue of lowering the age of juvenile offenders—that is, the age of criminal responsibility—when we held public discussions in March and April, I felt that beyond being a matter of pros and cons, it reflects concern for youth, a shared concern from all of us, and it is crucial that this translates into institutional policy. It is most important to help delinquent youth reintegrate into society while also paying genuine attention to establishing institutional systems that provide more active protection and support for victimized youth. What I am truly grateful for is that many experts, citizens, and media outlets joined us in March and April. Public awareness has been raised to the point where if someone says, 'I am a juvenile offender and cannot be punished,' it is now recognized as showing a lack of understanding. I find it meaningful that the public has become much more informed.

[Kim Tae-hyun]: Minister, has the direction been set toward lowering the age?

[Won Min-kyung]: Since the Ministry of Justice is currently conducting a public opinion survey and investigation, I do not think it is appropriate for me to speak on that direction right now.

[Kim Tae-hyun]: Understood. Let us touch upon one final issue. According to recently released statistics, there were 396 teen suicides last year, an increase of 45% compared to 10 years ago. I assume you are preparing measures to address the issues facing youth in crisis.

[Won Min-kyung]: Since I first took office, I have participated in suicide prevention meetings, specifically focusing on how to view youth suicide. The Ministry of Education, along with various relevant ministries and organizations, is examining this together. The government and the entire public must view the issue of youth in crisis and their emotional isolation as our own issue, as our children's issue. It will be difficult unless we approach it from that perspective. Young people need to see hope for the present and future, but under tremendous pressure, losing their sense of control may be the biggest cause. Therefore, our role is to convey messages about the bright aspects of our society and the future to youth. Of course, for young people in need of help, we actively support counseling. I would like to share the counseling helpline number: it is 1388.

[Kim Tae-hyun]: 1388.

[Won Min-kyung]: Yes.

[Kim Tae-hyun]: Understood. Today, with Minister Won Min-kyung, we covered various policy issues ranging from the introduction of Mifegyne to youth suicide prevention, juvenile offenders, and illegal recordings. We will wrap up here for today. That was Won Min-kyung, Minister of Gender Equality and Family. Thank you.

[Won Min-kyung]: Thank you.

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