As the government has decided to allow the introduction of the abortion pill "Mifegyne," Prime Minister Han Seong-sook said, "When it comes to women's health, the government must formally apologize for having neglected this for seven years."
On Sept. 14, during a National Assembly interpellation on education, society and culture, Prime Minister Han said this after People Power Party lawmaker Yoon Yong-geun criticized the government's plan to allow Mifegyne.
The Constitutional Court in 2019 issued a decision of constitutional inconsistency on punishing abortion, but criticism has continued that women are taking risks as a legislative fix has stalled in the National Assembly for seven years.
Prime Minister Han said, "People are purchasing the drug illegally, and there are health problems arising because they do not properly know how to use it or cannot receive proper treatment," adding, "It is also a problem that the government continues to neglect this."
She continued, "It is a drug approved and used in more than 50 countries worldwide," and said, "When bringing it into Korea, we are designing it so that it can be used only in hospitals after a physician's examination, in the most conservative manner." She added, "We will also follow the most conservative of the overseas standards on gestational age."
When lawmaker Yoon asserted, "Isn't President Lee Jae-myung suspected of receiving improper lobbying from a pharmaceutical company?" Prime Minister Han countered, "It is excessive to frame it that way," adding, "We are addressing women's health issues with a sense of responsibility." She added, "At the follow-up legislation stage, the National Assembly must take an active role."