Guide to Obtaining a Medical Abortion in South Korea
Due to the many messages I’ve been getting regarding the topic of abortion in South Korea after posting my experiences on Reddit and EWIK, I decided to make a Google document answering some of the more commonly asked questions and give advice to those choosing a medical abortion (pills administered and taken at home) in South Korea.
Unfortunately, I have no experience with getting a surgical abortion in South Korea. Please take into consideration that all information below is in regards to medically induced abortions with pills. The procedure for a typical medical abortion is as followed:
“A medical abortion is done in three stages. The first stage of a medical abortion begins after a woman takes 200 milligrams of Mifeprex by mouth in a medical center or in the privacy of her own home — this first pill detaches the embryo from the uterine wall. The second stage, which is typically 24 hours later (although effective until 48 hours), she’ll take four misoprostol pills (800 micrograms total) by dissolving two in between the gum and cheek on each side — this dispels the embryo. (Some misoprostol tablets are sometimes placed directly inside the vagina)
For the third step, she then returns to the clinic for a follow-up with her provider one to two weeks later.”
These are some of the topics I’ll be covering throughout this guide:
*Abortion can be tough emotionally for some women, and if anybody is having a hard time, please feel free to message me personally on Facebook or through my Reddit account helloilikeorangecats if you would like to remain more anonymous.
FAQ
Is abortion legal in South Korea?
Unfortunately, as of 2017, abortion is still illegal in South Korea.
I just recently found out that I’m pregnant. What are my options in Korea regarding abortion?
Although illegal, women still have access to abortions (both surgical and medical). There is a lot of information floating online about surgical abortions, which are abortions that happen in a health clinic or doctor’s office. Pills can also be ordered online and delivered to your home; this is known as a medical abortion. Surgical abortions, which can usually be performed quicker and days after you find out that you are pregnant, are typically more expensive (Ranges from $500~$1000 was what I was quoted in 2014) and it may be a possibility that you will have to “shop around” for somebody to do the procedure for you. If you are over 7 weeks pregnant or need an immediate abortion (under two weeks), I would highly suggest you look into a surgical abortion. It’s recommended that only people under 9 weeks undergo a medical abortion.
Where can I obtain the pills for a medical abortion?
Women on Web is a highly trusted organization that provides medical abortion prescriptions to women living in places where abortion isn’t legal. The site is 100% legitimate and is what I used myself, so I can attest that you’ll be safe ordering from them. Feel free to read stories from women around the world who have used this service here.
When should I order the pills?
After you have made your decision, I recommend ordering them immediately. This is because of the shipping time and how long it takes to get the pills to your address.
How much do the pills cost?
Women on Web works on a donation system. You know those stories that you hear about people ordering for the person behind them at starbucks, and it just keeps on going? That’s basically how payment works. It is recommended that all women pay a one time payment of at least $110~$120 dollars. Fortunately, because of the way this system works and the fact that many women donate to this cause out of the kindness of their hearts, if you are having financial problems, you should be able to negotiate paying a lower price.
How long do the pills take to arrive?
I received my pills in 2 weeks from the day I placed my order.
Is the packaging discreet? Will my package be held up in customs and get me into trouble?
The packaging was very discreet. No information about the contents inside of the package was put onto the front. No issue with customs. I signed for my package just like any normal delivery.
What if I change my mind?
If you change your mind and decided that this was not the choice for you, Women on Web will cancle your order and refund you your donation back if you want a refund. Unfortunately, I don’t know how this would work if you tried to cancel your order after it’s been processed and sent out. If it’s within a couple days and you cancel your order and request a refund, your refund should show up in your bank statement within 48 hours.
I’m in my late teens/early twenties and look very young. Are there any non-judgemental Women’s hospitals I can go to for an initial check up to confirm my pregnancy?
I and many other foreign women have had great experiences at Mediflower. Doctors and staff were very professional and understanding of my situation.
I’m not pregnant or seeking an abortion. Can I pay or make a donation to this cause anyway?
Donations are always welcome! Here is their donation page.
WHAT TO PREPARE
A question that I get a lot is, “Will it hurt?” I’m not going to sugar coat my experiences for the sake of getting women to see that abortion isn’t so bad, since it can be a problematic way to look down on women who have had painful/traumatic abortions. Women on Web does not offer any pain killers with their prescription. I chose to go without painkillers, and yes it did hurt for me, but my pain was very manageable and I was able to use a few tricks to ease the pain. However, I am not every woman, and I’d like to think I have a very high pain tolerance. If you are on the average to lower end of the pain tolerance scale, I would highly suggest you visit your local drugstore (약국) and pick up some Ibuprofen (이부프로펜) before starting the second stage of your medical abortion. With a medical abortion, your body is basically in early labor for a few hours. Look up basic breathing exercising for early labor, and how to deal with pain control through deep breathing.
Below is a list of things I prepared beforehand and found useful:
Gatorade/Powerade/Pocari Sweat
These drinks settle in your stomach better than water. You might also experience a lot of cold sweating during the process, and these drinks are good for making sure you don’t lose too many electrolytes.
Extra toilet paper
You’ll be doing most of your bleeding while sitting on the toilet, and it’s better to be stocked up than to suddenly run out when things get messy.
Overnight pads
Some people suggest maternity pads, but the bleeding never got the heavy for me personally. However, normal pads weren’t enough, but I found that overnight pads for the few weeks afterwards worked great.
Pillows, blankets, towels
You’ll probably find that the cold hard floor in your apartment is where you’ll probably prefer to lay down during some of the more painful parts. Just make a little makeshift bed in front of your bathroom door. I never experienced any leakage since I was so close to the bathroom, but putting a towel down might save your bedspread incase you do.
Personal bathroom
I know this seems like a given, but I know not every woman has the privilege to live in her own private studio apartment. To those living in shared housing with roommates, dormitories, or Goshiwons with public bathrooms, I would recommend either staying at a close friend’s house, a SO’s house, or getting a private hotel room for the night if possible. It will be a lot easier for you if you aren’t having to walk off to a bathroom or possibly have to wait for a chance to use the toilet. You’ll need a bathroom that you can claim for the night.
Entertainment (Netflix, Youtube, Cable TV, etc)
The more mindless the entertainment the better. Try something comforting, like a movie you’ve seen a lot from your home country, or a TV show you watch all of the time. I wouldn’t recommend reading a book, you’ll probably be too distracted to do any meaningful reading.
Personal fan
The biggest life saver in my honest opinion. An absolute must have if you are going through this in the summer time. Your body will feel very hot and uncomfortable without one. If you have an electric fan, that will do. But I found a lot of relief from a simple 1,000W handheld fan from Daiso.
It’s also really important that you have a trusted friend and or partner who knows that you are going through a medical abortion at home (or wherever you choose to to take the pills). If these people can’t be present with you, make sure you have all of their contact information and that they in return have yours. Know the closest emergency rooms and plan ahead on how you would get there if things took a turn for the worst. Download and learn how to use KakaoTaxi just in case. Remember that 119 is the number needed to call for any emergency situation in South Korea. You will mostly likely be fine, but you should always plan for an emergency.
If you end up being admitted to a hospital, you can simply say that you are experiencing a miscarriage to avoid any legal trouble.
DURING
How do I take the pills?
Dissolving buccally or under the tongue is the most common way to take the pills. It’s not recommended to swallow directly like other medications. Vaginally is also another option for those dealing with severe morning sickness. I’ve noticed a lot of people saying that dissolving in the mouth is the only way to go, and any other methods are irresponsible, however Women on Web wrote this on their web page.
“24 hours after swallowing the Mifepristone, the Misoprostol tablets can be used in one of three ways: under the tongue, vaginally or buccally (in the space between gum and cheek). All methods are equally effective in causing an abortion.”
It was also recommended on my personal prescription that my pills be taken vaginally. Do what's best for your body and keep the medication from being thrown up if at all possible.
What is the pain like?
The pain starts out as period like cramping, and gets heavier. It’s not an immediate process, but remember every situation is different. It may take up to an hour to really feel anything. Bleeding is not immediate either, and can start out as a light spotting for a couple hours before getting heavy.
What can I expect to feel?
This is a very common question. From my own personal experiences and reading about what happened with other women, I can say that you will more than likely feel the actual fetal tissue coming out. That part doesn’t hurt at all. It is after that point where all of the cramping stops
Are my pills not working ‘enough’?
This was a personal issue I faced. Remember that an abortion is not a punishment. You aren’t supposed to be shriveled up in pain and wishing that you would just die during the whole process. If you are bleeding accordingly, and not showing any major signs of a failed medical abortion, don’t be hard on yourself.
Any side effects?
Personally, I had no side effects from my dosage. It just felt like a bad period.
AFTER CARE & EMOTIONAL WELL BEING
Afterwards, you’ll be bleeding for about a week to two weeks. Personally, I only bled for a week and a half, with the heaviest days being right in the middle. Surprisingly, after expelling the fetal tissue, the bleeding lightened and then got heavier a few days later. There were some painful twinges occasionally, but they only hurt for a few seconds and only happened two or three times. I was able to go out and about and enjoy life, and it just felt like I was on my period. Everything was all clear at my final checkup. PLEASE, don’t skip out on your final checkup. I personally just told the doctor that I miscarried.
Every woman is different after an abortion. Some people feel relieved, some people cry, others react in different ways. You should never feel guilty about the way you feel after your abortion. If you don’t feel anything afterwards, you aren’t heartless or cold. If you feel sad, that doesn’t make you any less stronger as a woman. Afterwards you may feel like you want to let out some steam or need a place to let out some complex emotions. I’ve found these three resources to be great in helping get stuff off of your chest:
Women on Web has a great Q&A page on aftercare on their website that is very useful as well!
Additional resources