South Korea’s constitutional court has ruled the nation’s ban on abortion as unconstitutional, and has ordered the ban must be lifted by 2020.
Under the 1953 ban, women who have abortions can be fined and imprisoned, except in cases of rape, incest or risk to their health. Doctors who perform the procedure can also face jail.
The law was reviewed after a challenge from a female doctor who was prosecuted for performing almost 70 abortions. She said the ban endangered women and limited their rights.