Alive Newborn Frozen; YouTube Personality and Medical Professionals Charged with Homicide in Contested 36-week Abortion Trial
A South Korean YouTuber and two medical professionals have been indicted for murder in a shocking case of an illegal abortion performed at 36 weeks of pregnancy, a procedure considered full-term.
The case gained public attention in June last year when the YouTuber, surnamed Kwon, uploaded a video detailing her abortion. Investigations revealed that the baby was born alive via a C-section but was then placed under a surgical drape and put into a freezer, where the newborn died.
Hospital staff allegedly falsified medical records to conceal the incident, reporting symptoms to mimic a stillbirth and issuing a false diagnosis. The hospital, located in South Korea, reportedly carried out over 500 illegal abortions between August 2022 and July 2023, arranged through brokers, with total illegal earnings around 1.5 billion won (~$1.09 million).
The two brokers who introduced patients to the hospital have been charged with violating the Medical Service Act. The hospital director, surnamed Yoon, and a surgeon, surnamed Shim, have also been indicted for murder.
The case has reignited public controversy and debate over South Korea's abortion laws, emphasizing the need for clear legal standards to balance women's reproductive rights and fetal protections. Prosecutors have vowed to confiscate all profits from the hospital’s illegal activities to deter such inhumane acts motivated by financial gain.
In April 2019, the Constitutional Court ruled that criminalizing all abortions was unconstitutional. However, the National Assembly has yet to enact legislation clarifying abortion's legal framework, leaving abortion in a legal gray area. Without clear laws, performing abortions late in pregnancy or through certain methods can lead to prosecution, as has occurred with this case.
This tragic incident serves as a stark reminder of the need for comprehensive abortion laws in South Korea. The country's current laws, or lack thereof, have left women vulnerable and have resulted in illegal and potentially dangerous procedures. It is hoped that this case will push the National Assembly to enact legislation that provides clear and safe guidelines for women's reproductive health.
- The shocking case of an illegal abortion at 36 weeks of pregnancy highlights the need for clear legal standards in South Korea's reproductive health and wellness sector, as the lack of legislation has led to dangerous, potentially life-threatening medical-conditions.
- The controversy surrounding the South Korean hospital's involvement in illegal abortures, including murder charges, underscores the importance of addressing crime-and-justice issues related to reproductive health and safety, particularly as cases such as these can be influenced by financial motivations within the health-and-wellness realm.
