The South Korean government announced Wednesday that it will formally introduce abortion pills for pregnancies up to nine weeks, targeting availability in the first quarter of 2027.

The move comes seven years after the Constitutional Court ruled the country's longstanding abortion ban unconstitutional in 2019. No follow-up legislation has been enacted since, creating what officials described as an institutional vacuum that has driven some women to unsafe methods.

Under the plan, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety will review applications for drugs such as Mifegyne, a mifepristone-based medication. For the first two years, prescriptions and dispensing will occur only at hospitals and clinics to monitor safety and side effects. Access may later expand to pharmacies if conditions allow.

Prime Minister Han Seong-sook emphasized safety during a policy coordination meeting, stating the government must ensure women receive treatment within the medical system rather than relying on unverified options. President Lee Jae Myung directed officials in July to explore the option even before full legal changes.

Reactions have been mixed. Women's groups welcomed the step toward safer access but called for broader availability and legal reforms. Medical organizations urged stronger safeguards and legislation first, while religious groups raised concerns over the value of life.

The announcement reflects efforts to address black-market use of abortion pills and align with practices in about 100 other countries. Officials stressed that the initial hospital-only phase will allow close oversight of the two-drug regimen of mifepristone and misoprostol.

No decision has been made on national health insurance coverage. The policy aims to reduce health risks from unregulated sources while operating under an interpretation that it does not violate the Mother and Child Health Act.