[8] Despite a 1987 revision of the Medical Code prohibiting physicians from using prenatal testing to reveal the sex of the child, the ratio of boys to girls at birth continued to climb into the early the 1990s, but the trend has reversed ever since.
[7] In 1992, a special congressional committee tried to pass the revised Articles 269 and 270 by introducing lessened thresholds and penalties pertaining to abortion.
Many explanations tracing the history and legislative purpose of Article 269 and 270 propose that the two provisions were designed to address post-Korean War conditions by promoting the sanctity of lives and population growth.
South Korea underwent rapid economic and social development in the 1980s, during which time the birth rate decreased significantly.
Many people in South Korea started to determine the sex of the fetus with the help of diagnostic technology, resulting in female feticide.
Medical professionals who disclose the sex of the fetus could be punished with a maximum of three years imprisonment or a fine of 10 million won (approximately $8,450).
[13] Debate concerning the future of abortion regulation in South Korea has gained traction both in internet chatrooms and government offices.
The Minister of Health, Welfare and Family Affairs, Jeon Jae-hee, stated that "even if [the government doesn't] intend to hold anyone accountable for all ... illegal abortions in the past, [they] must crack down on them from now on."
Similarly, Rep. Chang Yoon-seok, of the Grand National Party, stated that "[t]he most important thing will be for the doctors to understand that abortion is a serious crime.
"[14] In January 2010, President Lee Myung-bak decided it was "time to start the debate" on revising the Mother and Child Health Law and scheduled public hearings.
[10][7] In September 2017, campaigners filed a petition on the website of Moon Jae-in, the President of South Korea, calling on the government to amend the law by permitting the sale of the abortion pill mifepristone.
[17] In late 2018, a poll released by the Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs revealed that 75% of women aged 15 to 44 thought of abortion law as unfair and wanted it to be revised.
[18] A 2024 report by Pew Research Center revealed that 69% of South Korea's citizens believed that abortion should be legal in all or most cases.
The Court granted lawmakers until 31 December 2020, to revise the laws, until which time the provisions of the Korean Criminal Code would remain in effect.
Other researchers, including Park Myung-bae of Pai Chai University, have estimated numbers much higher: 500,000[20][30] or 1 million abortions per year.