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Abortion in Busan, Korea

Abortion is no longer a crime in Korea, but no law yet regulates how it is provided. This guide explains what that means in practice, where things stand on abortion pills, and how to find and question a clinic in Busan.

Is abortion legal in Korea?

In April 2019 the Constitutional Court ruled that the criminal abortion ban was unconstitutional and gave lawmakers until the end of 2020 to revise it. No revision passed, so the criminal provisions lapsed on January 1, 2021. Replacement legislation still has not been enacted. As a result:

  • There is no national gestational limit, mandatory counseling or waiting period.
  • Clinics decide individually whether to provide abortion and up to which week.
  • Abortion is not covered by National Health Insurance (NHI).

Abortion pills: current status

Medication abortion (mifepristone with misoprostol) has not been approved in Korea. An application for an import product has been under review by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety for several years. In September 2026 the government announced plans to allow it for pregnancies up to 9 weeks, prescribed and dispensed at medical institutions only, but approval had not been granted at that time. Until it is, any pills sold online are unregulated. Check the latest status with a clinic.

How to find care in Busan

  • Start with an OB/GYN visit to confirm the pregnancy by ultrasound and estimate how many weeks along you are.
  • Call clinics and ask directly: Do you provide abortion? Up to how many weeks? What is the total cost, including sedation and follow-up?
  • First-trimester procedures are usually surgical (vacuum aspiration) and done as a same-day procedure, often under sedation.
  • Plan for someone to take you home and for a follow-up check about 1–2 weeks later.

Cost

Fees are self-pay and vary by clinic, gestational age and anesthesia. Get an itemized quote in advance. You can ask whether pre-procedure tests (ultrasound, blood work) are included.

Tips for foreigners

  • Bring your ARC or passport.
  • Ask for consent forms to be explained in English, or use 1330 for phone interpretation.
  • Ask about contraception afterward. An IUD can sometimes be placed at the same visit.
  • Read our international patients guide .

Related

Elsewhere in Korea

When to get help sooner

Call 119 or go to an ER for very heavy bleeding, fever or chills, severe or worsening abdominal pain, foul-smelling discharge or fainting. This applies especially after any procedure or after taking pills obtained outside a clinic. Severe one-sided pain in early pregnancy may indicate an ectopic pregnancy.

OB/GYN clinics in Busan

These clinics can confirm a pregnancy and discuss options. We have not confirmed which ones provide abortion. Call to ask about services, gestational limits and fees.

Clinic Area Phone Listed features
Jamo Women's Hospital (Gwangan Jamo Hospital) Gwangan-dong (Gwangalli) 051-760-0600 Female doctor, Delivers, Sat, IUD
Roaen OB/GYN Clinic Seomyeon (Bujeon-dong) 051-804-3000 Sat, Evenings, STD tests
Centum Eroom Women's Clinic Centum City (U-dong) 051-758-8275 Sat, Fertility
Eve & Adam Women's Clinic Centum City (U-dong) 051-743-7585 Sat, Evenings, STD tests
Ms For You Women's Clinic Jwa-dong (Jangsan) 051-636-7975 Sat, Evenings
Dongnae Bom OB/GYN Clinic Oncheon-dong 051-711-2060 Sat, Evenings
Seoul Samsung OB/GYN Clinic Yeonsan-dong 051-714-3500 Sat
Jini OB/GYN Clinic Jangjeon-dong (Pusan Natl Univ) 051-582-8275 Sat, Evenings
Mari Women's Clinic Daeyeon-dong (Kyungsung-Pukyong Univ) 051-626-1009 Sat, STD tests
She's Bon OB/GYN Clinic Suyeong / Millak area Not listed Sat, STD tests
Rose Women's Clinic Nampo-dong 051-245-7911 Sat, Evenings

Abortion in Korea: FAQ

  • Is abortion a crime in Korea?

    No. The criminal ban lapsed at the end of 2020 after the 2019 Constitutional Court ruling. However, no new law sets rules for how it is provided.

  • Is there a legal week limit?

    There is currently no national limit in law. Clinics apply their own limits, so ask each one.

  • Can I get abortion pills in Busan?

    Abortion pills had not been approved in Korea as of late 2026, though the government has announced plans to introduce them for early pregnancy. Ask a clinic about the current status.

  • Does health insurance pay?

    No. Abortion is not covered by NHI and is self-pay.

  • Do I need my partner's consent?

    The old consent requirements belonged to provisions that no longer apply, but clinic practices differ. Ask the clinic what paperwork they require.