Seoul Court Convicts Three of Murder in Late-Term Case
Is abortion essential healthcare or does a viable fetus deserve protection as a human being?
Above: South Korean pro-lifers hold a rally supporting an abortion ban outside the constitutional court in Seoul on April 11, 2019. Image credit: Jung Yeon-je/AFP/Getty Images
The Spin
Left narrative
Abortion is essential healthcare and a human right, not a crime. South Korea's failure to reform abortion laws has created a dangerous legal vacuum that pushes pregnant people toward exploitative practices and denies them vital healthcare. The government must immediately dismantle all barriers to sexual and reproductive health and rights.
Right narrative
Human life is invaluable, and a fetus with the ability to survive outside the womb deserves protection as a person. The defendant knew the fetus could survive after birth and heard its heartbeat, yet proceeded with surgery that would cause death. While systemic failures exist, terminating a viable pregnancy at 36 weeks cannot be justified.