South Korean Court Imposes Prison Sentences On Medical Professionals For Late Term Abortion Murder

A South Korean court sentenced two doctors to prison for murder after a 36-week abortion, citing the legal vacuum following the 2021 decriminalization.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 5, 2026, 5:30 AM EST

Source: The information in this article was sourced from JURIST

Judicial Determination Of Medical Murder

The South Korea Central District Court has delivered a landmark ruling by sentencing two medical professionals to prison for their roles in a 36 week abortion. On Wednesday, the court held the hospital director and the operating surgeon criminally liable for murder, handing down sentences of six and four years respectively. According to the prosecution, the surgeon performed a cesarean section to deliver the infant alive before placing the newborn in a freezer. The presiding judge emphasized that the right to life is a constitutional protection afforded to all individuals, explicitly including newborns who have been delivered through such procedures.

Evidence Of Clinical Cover Up

Beyond the act of termination itself, the court found evidence of significant procedural misconduct intended to shield the hospital from legal scrutiny. The director was found guilty of falsifying official medical records to reflect a stillbirth rather than a live delivery. This administrative manipulation was viewed by the court as a deliberate attempt to hide the reality of the event from health authorities. The severity of the prison terms reflects the court’s stance on the ethical breach involved in delivering a viable infant only to ensure its death through freezing, a detail that the prosecution used to solidify the murder charge.

Suspended Sentence For The Maternal Defendant

In a separate judgment regarding the 26 year old mother, the court found her guilty of attempted murder but chose to exercise leniency. While she was sentenced to three years of imprisonment, the term was suspended for five years. The court justified this decision by acknowledging the significant hardships she faced regarding pregnancy management and future childcare. Furthermore, the judiciary pointed to a persistent legislative vacuum in South Korea that makes accessing timely and safe abortion services exceptionally difficult for many women, effectively placing the mother in a position of extreme desperation.