Catholics in South Korea oppose plans that seek to replace the term “abortion” with “termination of pregnancy,” legalize abortion procedures, and introduce abortion pills
Newsroom (30/09/2025, Gaudium Press )The Catholic Church in South Korea has intensified its opposition to proposed changes to the nation’s abortion laws, launching a nationwide 40-day prayer campaign to protest measures that would legalize abortion pills and ease existing restrictions. The “40 Days of Prayer for Life,” organized by the Committee for Family and Life of the Korean Bishops’ Conference (CBCK), began on Sept. 24 and will continue until Nov. 2, according to the Vatican’s Fides news agency.
The campaign responds to a government proposal introduced during a recent cabinet meeting under President Lee Jae-myung. The plan seeks to replace the term “abortion” with “termination of pregnancy,” legalize abortion procedures, and introduce abortion pills. In July, lawmakers from the Democratic Party of Korea submitted bills supporting similar reforms, further fueling the debate.
As part of the campaign, lay Catholics, priests, and religious communities are gathering in public squares and symbolic locations across the country, holding pro-life signs and praying silently. The Church, joined by Protestant groups and segments of the medical community, has criticized the government’s agenda as undermining the sanctity of life.
Bishop Pius Moon Chang-woo, president of the CBCK’s Committee for Family and Life, emphasized the need for policies that “protect both women and fetuses” while ensuring the right of doctors, nurses, and pharmacists to conscientious objection. “The government’s agenda diminishes the precious value of pregnancy and childbirth,” said Professor Maria Kim Kyung-ah of Incheon Catholic University, who coordinates the campaign.
In August, four Catholic organizations, led by Bishop Moon, submitted a protest note to the National Assembly’s Health and Welfare Committee. Meanwhile, the National Coalition for the Protection of Fetuses and Women, a group of 70 civic organizations, launched a mass signature campaign to block the proposed legislation. The Seoul Archdiocese’s Pro-Life Committee is also mobilizing parishes to promote petition drives and raise awareness.
The controversy follows a 2019 Constitutional Court ruling that decriminalized abortion, declaring the existing punitive law unconstitutional. The government argues that the proposed reforms aim to “guarantee women’s health and rights” by addressing the legal gap created by the decision. However, opponents, including the Catholic Church, contend that the changes prioritize women’s rights at the expense of the fetus’s right to life.
As the 40-day campaign continues, South Korea’s abortion debate remains a contentious issue, pitting religious and ethical concerns against calls for greater reproductive autonomy.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from UCA News
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