The South Korean government has announced plans to reverse the blanket ban on abortions that was imposed in 1953 and revise the law to permit a termination before the 14th week of a pregnancy. The proposed changes have been strongly criticized by both sides of the argument.

Last week, the government announced that it will alter sections of both the Criminal Act and the Mother and Child Health Act that refer to abortion. The changes will also allow abortions up to a maximum of 24 weeks for women with extenuating medical or economic circumstances, if a genetic disorder is identified in the baby or if they have been the victim of a rape.

The announcement comes after the Constitutional Court ruled last year that the criminalization of all abortions is in contravention of the constitution. Conservatives and religious groups have taken issue with the court's ruling and the government's planned legal revisions on the grounds that all life is sacred and should be protected.

Crackdown on procedures?

In the other camp, liberals and women's rights groups say the proposals do not go far enough and that the government is still dictating what a woman can choose to do with her own body. And they warn that while punishments for illegal abortions have been rare in the last decade, the authorities may now choose to crack down on procedures that take place after the 14-week deadline.

By law, a woman can be punished by up to one year in prison or a fine of a maximum of 2 million Korean won (€1,477, $1,741) for having an abortion, while a medical worker who carries out the procedure can be sentenced to two years in prison. Read more via DW