Korean Job Discussion Forums

indigo · Joined: 03 May 2006 Location: Yeoju

So I'm sure this has been discussed, but I can't seem to find the information. I'm curious about how abortion is perceived here in South Korea. I've read old information that says abortion is very common here, and people don't really give it much thought. (Fascinating to me considering the constant discussion of it in the US) Is this currently true? If so, where are all of these women going to get abortions? I'm also interested to know what Korean Christians are taught/think about abortion here.

Milwaukiedave · Joined: 02 Oct 2004 Location: Goseong

It's definately not something that people talk about that much. From what I have heard it was more common in the old days that single woman were forced to have abortions (or give up their children).

Also if a couple found out their child was going to be a girl, they sometimes sought an abortion. From what I've heard doctors aren't suppose to tell a couple what sex their child is because of that. But it is more acceptable (at least with the younger generations) to have girls then it used to be. I still hear about parents pressuring their kids to have girls.

indigo · Joined: 03 May 2006 Location: Yeoju

I've heard a bit about gender selection and abortions. Unfortunately, I think

Privateer · Joined: 31 Aug 2005 Location: Easy Street.

IMHO you'd be hard put to find a Korean woman who's reached 30 without having had an abortion.

indigo · Joined: 03 May 2006 Location: Yeoju

I'm not surprised to hear this based on other stuff I've heard, but where are they getting them? And is it legal?

anae · Joined: 13 May 2003 Location: cowtown

They can get them at the local OBGYN. When I was at one of my first appointments in Jeonju, guess what was happening in the room next to me.

Neil · Joined: 02 Jan 2004 Location: Tokyo

It's expensive.....

SarcasmKills · Joined: 07 Apr 2003 Location: Seoul

It's legal, it's readily available, and no, it's not expensive.

And as for that 30s comment... it's scary how much truth there is in that...

Guri Guy · Joined: 07 Sep 2003 Location: Bamboo Island

Kind of depressing isn't it? Sad

semphoon · Joined: 18 Nov 2005 Location: Where Nowon is

I might get me one.

Do they give seh-beuh-seuh?

How much are they?

Captain Corea · Joined: 28 Feb 2005 Location: Seoul

Yo!Chingo · Joined: 06 Dec 2005 Location: Seoul Korea

Milwaukiedave · Joined: 02 Oct 2004 Location: Goseong

Indigo,

Yeah I was trying to be nice and not say all woman get an abortion in that statement. It is true, many do still do that.

I've heard the way the doctors get around telling a couple if the baby is a boy or girl is done like this:

If it's a boy: "That's a very handsome baby."

If it's a girl: "That's a very pretty baby."

I actually heard this from a Korean so I was a bit shocked.

Someone made a comment about woman getting an abortion before age 30. Someone who I used to be friends with recently told me she had been pregant and got an abortion. She told me that she was in a fair amount of pain even days after the abortion and didn't feel well.

Real Reality · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Location: Seoul

Is Abortion Illegal in Korea?
According to the law, a physician may perform an abortion if the pregnant woman or her spouse suffers from an eugenic or hereditary mental or physical disease.... if the pregnancy results from rape or incest or if continuation of the pregnancy is likely to jeopardize the mother�s health.

... prosecutors rarely prosecute those that perform or procure abortions because of the exceptions, the fact that doctors can fit their case into the exemptions, and the fact that the attitude of Koreans towards abortion has drastically changed, since the imposition of the law.

Today, a pregnant woman who wishes to abort her fetus usually visits her local obstetrician/gynecologist and the doctor usually performs the abortion or the doctor refers the patient to a clinic that will perform the abortion. According to a information obtained in a phone call to a local clinic, abortions cost between 350,000 won and 600,000 won in normal cases.
by Sean Hayes, Korea Times (January 9, 2006)
http://times.hankooki.com/lpage/biz/200601/kt2006010915040711910.htm

Over 40% of pregnancies aborted
Around 350,000 abortions are estimated to be conducted yearly in Korea, the Ministry of Health and Welfare said, based on a recent survey -- the first such poll to include figures of abortions performed on unmarried women. The survey of 200 obstetric and gynecology clinics was commissioned by the ministry and carried out by a team at Korea University, headed by Professor Kim Hai-jung.

The results show that between May and June, nearly 5,700 abortions were performed in the surveyed clinics. Since the nation has about 2,000 such clinics, the average number of abortions annually is about 350,000, the survey concluded. Last year, more than 476,000 babies were born in Korea, with the number of estimated abortions amounting to almost three-quarters that number.
by Shin Sung-sik, JoongAng Daily (September 14, 2005)
http://joongangdaily.joins.com/200509/13/200509132307525839900090409041.html

[FOUNTAIN] 'Erasing' our own future
Korea's abortion rate is estimated as 1.5 to 2 million per year, a number similar to that of America. Our abortion rate per population ranks top in the world.
by Yi Jung-jae, JoongAng Daily (January 10, 2006)
http://joongangdaily.joins.com/200601/10/200601102201352739900090109012.html

Shelters See Six Single Women Give Birth Every Day
Chosun Ilbo (October 2, 2005)
http://english.chosun.com/w21data/html/news/200510/200510020014.html

Planned Population Federation of Korea (PPFK)
http://www.ppfk.or.kr/eng/index.asp

EFLtrainer · Joined: 04 May 2005

I recently looked up the birth rates, and guess what? While Korea's male:femal ratio has improved, it is still 111:100. The natural rate is around 105:100.

Obviously, selective abortions are still going on.