In brief
In a controversial court decision, Kwon, a South Korean woman, was acquitted of murder after a newborn was killed during a 36‑week abortion attempt. The appeals court found she likely did not know the baby would be terminated, a nuance that cleared her of culpability. Doctors involved received reduced sentences but remain convicted. Critics highlight the case’s exposure of the legal vacuum surrounding late‑term abortion in South Korea, calling for clearer regulations and better support for pregnant individuals.
Legal twists: A South Korean court recently cleared Kwon of murder after condemning a newborn killed in a 36‑week abortion attempt.
Background: Kwon, in her twenties, posted a YouTube video requesting an abortion at 36 weeks. Prosecutors argued that the baby was born alive and later cut off. An initial conviction gave her a three‑year suspended sentence.
Doctors were also convicted — a surgeon's sentence dropped from four years to two‑and‑a‑half, and the hospital director's from six to four. During the trial, both admitted to killing the infant.
However, the appeals court found that Kwon was probably unaware the baby would be killed, as a broker told her it would be a stillbirth. This uncertainty led to her acquittal.
Reform voices cite the case as a stark reminder of the gaps in South Korea’s abortion laws, which have been legally recognized only since 2019 but still lack regulation on gestational limits. The government is urged to close these loopholes.
Warning: Graphic details may distress readers.
