On March 4, a ruling is expected for a woman in her twenties, identified as Kwon, who is facing murder charges after having an abortion at 36 weeks of pregnancy. This case has sparked significant public outcry, leading to a petition signed by nearly 4,800 citizens and 127 civic groups in South Korea, requesting her acquittal. The petition was submitted to the Seoul Central District Court by a civic group advocating for safe abortion rights, emphasizing that Kwon’s situation highlights the broader issues stemming from the absence of effective legislation related to abortion.

The controversy arose after Kwon shared her experience of obtaining an abortion at 36 weeks in a YouTube video, igniting discussions about the legality of such procedures. Following a 2019 Constitutional Court decision that deemed existing anti-abortion laws unconstitutional, South Korea has faced a legislative vacuum regarding abortion laws since 2021. The police and the prosecution have interpreted Kwon's case, involving a fetus deemed viable outside the womb at 36 weeks, as murder, thus leading to a six-year prison sentence sought by the prosecution.

Petitioners argue that Kwon's prosecution reflects a systemic failure rather than individual wrongdoing, pointing to the lack of regulatory support and clear information regarding abortion procedures. Many citizens voiced that Kwon was unable to access timely abortion services at multiple medical institutions due to the prevailing legal ambiguities regarding the circumstances under which an abortion could be performed. This incident underscores the urgent need for comprehensive legislative action to provide safer and regulated options for abortion and better support for women's reproductive health in South Korea.