Summary
A South Korean court found a woman and two doctors guilty of murder for killing a newborn baby after a late-term abortion attempt. The woman wanted to terminate the pregnancy at 36 weeks, but prosecutors said the baby was born alive and then killed by the doctors. The case highlighted the lack of clear regulations around abortions in South Korea, especially for late-stage procedures.
Key Facts
- A woman in South Korea and her two doctors were convicted of murder related to a late-term abortion case.
- The woman sought to terminate her pregnancy at 36 weeks, and the baby was born alive.
- The court sentenced the surgeon to four years and the director of the hospital to six years in prison. The woman received a three-year suspended sentence.
- Prosecutors said the baby was placed in a freezer after birth, causing its death.
- The woman claimed she was unaware the baby would be killed after birth.
- The trial marked the first time murder charges in South Korea involved a late-term abortion.
- Abortions were decriminalized in South Korea in 2019, but there are no specific regulations regarding late-stage abortions.
- The hospital involved reportedly performed over 500 abortions, receiving significant payments through brokers.
