What if you had an unwanted pregnancy? | An interruption of pregnancy
In Korea, abortion has always been a very taboo topic. However, in 2019 the Constitutional Court ruled against the Constitution regarding abortion and it has been completely abolished in 2021. However, the law “change” does not clearly state if and how a woman could be punished for having an abortion and until what stage it is legally “acceptable.
This change was a great breather for Korean women and foreigners living in Korea. Even so, the law made women even more confused and the information, which was already lacking, created more misunderstanding for both couples who wanted to have an abortion and the doctors and clinics.
Therefore, women needed to check with obstetrics and gynecology clinics for exact information on the procedure options and the conditions under which one can undergo it.
Who can get an abortion | Article 14 of the Maternal and Child Health Act:
1. If you/your partner or spouse have been officially diagnosed with a mental or physical
disorder
2. If you/your partner or spouse have an infectious disease
3. If the pregnancy resulted from you being a victim of rape or quasi-rape
4. If the pregnancy resulted from a sexual relationship or illegal marriage between relatives
5. If the pregnancy is difficult to maintain it healthy and can affect the mother’s health
Overall, most part of Korean society agrees on the fact that we should respect a woman’s right of terminating a pregnancy. However, many still debate this topic and it leads to huge burdens on women. This directed to a lack of information on what procedures we can undergo to have an abortion, the consequences, and the cost of them.
In Korea you can have an abortion depending on your pregnancy state:
1. By taking a pill, if the pregnancy is within 8 weeks;
2. By vacuum surgery, if the pregnancy is over 8 weeks.
You will receive a prescription from the medical staff after careful consultation.
Abortion through pills. What not to do after taking them:
You need to avoid vitamins, folic acids, and nutrients
Avoid eating fruits
Avoid drinking and smoking
In the case of pills which you receive for pregnancies within 8 weeks before the fetus's viability, you’ll have to take one pill on the same day of the prescription by placing it under your tongue and another one the next day.
Induced childbirth is an operation that tries to simulate actual childbirth. It’s a method that stimulates the uterine muscles in order to contract and naturally release out of the fetus. This option for abortion takes longer to decide if it is possible and the best choice for the mother. It can happen to be not completely removed; therefore, additional surgery will be required.
If complications were in discussion for this option, a cesarean surgery will be undergone to remove the fetus or any remaining. However, if you check Article 14 of the Maternal and Child Health Act of the Republic of Korea, abortion surgery was not legalized for pregnancies over 24 weeks and both induction and cesarean operation were not an option.
If the pregnancy is over 8 weeks, surgery is required.
A vacuum aspiration can be one of the options. A thin tube called a cannula will be inserted into the mother’s uterus and a pump connected to it will help with the suction procedure. The tissue will be gently removed from the uterus in a short period of surgery. Some risks of fertility can follow if the suctioning procedure left the uterus walls damaged.
What if you need to find a reliable and safe place?
What about the cost of an abortion?
As we already said, information regarding abortions lacked in Korea. You had to search very well to find a reliable and safe place. Most women thought that if you found a place that’ll do it for ₩500.000 cheaper would be a sign of unsafety. Therefore, many chose to follow the ovulation method, avoid sexual relationships, or even attempt an at-home abortion.
What to consider after a termination of pregnancy:
There could be some aftereffects or changes to your body after an abortion, depending on the procedure choice and your doctor’s careful attention. What you could experience post-abortion:
1. Period-like pain or severe pain
2. Early or delayed menstruation
3. Stomach cramps
These symptoms should not be present longer than 1 to 2 weeks. In case they last longer than 2 weeks or you have severe bleeding visit the hospital immediately!
There are a few options for contraception for us to choose from. However, they all have flaws. In the case of a condom, damage can occur and it can break. Also, oral contraceptives and other women's options can lead to “surprise” pregnancies as well.
If you check Article 14 of the Maternal and Child Health Act of the Republic of Korea, abortion surgery has a legalized category of abortions. As mentioned above, there were few circumstances under which a mother could undergo a legalized abortion operation.
The doctors had a hard time as well since they had to accurately calculate the stage of pregnancy and choose the right abortion option considering the mother’s health. Accepting to do an abortion for any other situation than those approved by the law could get both the patient and doctor to be legally responsible.
It is important to keep in mind that abortions over 15 weeks are very hard to do in Korea therefore we recommend you prepare carefully and have it at an earlier stage through pills or vacuum surgery.
Also, most hospitals that might do a dangerous abortion over 15 weeks usually do not give you a price over the phone and ask you to come for a consultation first and to bring cash, not a card. One must be very careful!
Cost of pregnancy interruption:
The cost of an abortion in Korea varies depending on how advanced is your pregnancy. If it’s in the early stages it can be around ₩70,000 however, if it’s past mid-term it can cost you up to 3-4 million.
Depending on your pregnancy stage you can resort to:
1. Pill
It can be given with a prescription by a doctor or ordered online
Must pay extreme attention to the websites you choose to order from because many online stores in Korea will sell you a pill that does not have the concentration necessary for a successful abortion.
You can order, for high trust, from Women’s organizations such as:
Women on Web: a-kare - international delivery ₩97000 – ₩125,000/ €70 - €90, you need to complete a counseling survey, up to 12 weeks stage
Women Help women: you will have to complete a survey and donate a minimum of €75/₩ 104,000(in 1 or more installments). After, your pills will be delivered to you very discreetly.
2. Vacuum Surgery
Cost: ₩600.000 – ₩800.000 (recommended until 8 weeks)
How is it calculated: ₩100,000 for EACH pregnancy week until 5 weeks, ₩200,000 for EACH week from 6 to 10 weeks, ₩400,000 for EACH week from 11 to 15 weeks (mostly not allowed to do over 8-10 weeks)
Some places won’t use this system of payment but most refer to this one
Ex: If you are 11 weeks pregnant you will pay: 5*100,000 + 5*200,000 + 1*400,000 = 500,000 + 1,000,000 + 400,000 = ₩1,9 million
It includes: ultrasound, uterine adhesion prevention, and the nutritional supplements necessary post-op.
3. Induced abortion
Cost: ₩2-3 million however it’s mostly illegal
For pregnancies over 3 months
For information on the Plan B pill, condoms, birth control pills, ovulation and pregnancy tests read our article covering this topic.
Please be aware that all the information and word choice have been used as referred from the Korean sources and prices might vary by every clinic/hospital/private office.
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