Home / Crime and Justice / South Korean court acquits woman in baby murder case
South Korean court acquits woman in baby murder case
23 Jul
Summary
- A woman was acquitted of murder in a late-term pregnancy termination case.
- The court ruled she may not have known the baby would be killed.
- The case highlights South Korea's unclear abortion regulations.
A South Korean appeals court has acquitted a woman, identified by her surname Kwon, of murder charges related to a late-term pregnancy termination. Kwon had been convicted in March for murder, alongside two doctors, for the death of a baby she delivered at 36 weeks gestation. The case has reignited discussions surrounding the country's abortion laws, which have remained unclear since the ban was removed in 2019.
The initial verdict found Kwon knew the baby would be born alive, but the appeals court reconsidered the evidence. It ruled that a broker had informed Kwon the baby would be stillborn, casting doubt on her knowledge of the subsequent events. While Kwon was acquitted, the doctors involved admitted to killing the baby and had their sentences reduced on appeal.
This case is the first to bring murder charges against a woman seeking a late-stage abortion and the medical professionals involved. Amnesty International Korea welcomed Kwon's acquittal but emphasized the urgent need for clear regulations and improved access to safe abortion services, citing the existing legal vacuum that leaves pregnant individuals without adequate protections.
