[Public Opinion Briefing Vol. 33-2] Variation in Korean Perceptions of Abortion

[Public Opinion Briefing Vol. 33] To Recognize or Not Recognize Abortion Rights?

[1] Growing Global Support for Abortion Rights

[2] Variation in Korean Perceptions of Abortion by Socioeconomic Status

Koreans Show Significant Variation in Perceptions of Abortion by Socioeconomic Status



• No difference in perception between genders.

• Higher recognition of abortion rights among those in their 30s, with higher education, middle class, and Buddhists.

• Criminal punishment for abortion: 20s 32.7%, 30s 17.5%, 40s 14.0%, 50s and above 7.4%

• Strong resistance to judicial punishment even with government intervention.

Public opinion in Korea also appears to show widespread support for recognizing abortion rights. While 62% of all respondents believe the issue of abortion should be left to individual judgment, only 37.3% believe the government should intervene to prevent it.

Among those who believe government intervention is necessary, a majority advocate for educational and counseling measures rather than judicial punishment. In the overall survey of 18 countries, the proportion favoring educational means was 56.1%. In Korea, the stance favoring educational means over judicial punishment was particularly strong. Among respondents who believed the government should intervene in abortion issues, only 16% supported judicial punishment for abortion. In contrast, 84% supported the use of educational means. Although abortion is legally subject to punishment, the public perceives that abortion falls outside the scope of judicial punishment.

There was no difference in perception regarding abortion between men and women. The proportion supporting the respect of abortion rights was 61% for men and 63% for women, showing no significant difference. However, variations in perception were observed across income groups and religious affiliations. The middle class, earning between 2 million and less than 4 million KRW per month, and individuals with a high school diploma or higher education showed a stronger inclination towards recognizing abortion rights compared to other demographic groups. These groups have historically been the origin of progressive public opinion in Korean society and are currently driving the sentiment that abortion should be approached as an individual right. By religion, 67% of Buddhists generally favored leaving abortion issues to individual judgment, while Catholics (55%) and Protestants (55%) showed relatively weaker support.

By age group, those in their 40s and 50s and above showed a lower proportion (58%) in favor of recognizing abortion rights compared to other age groups. The highest proportion was among those in their 30s, at 71%. Notably, unlike those in their 30s, the proportion of respondents in their 20s who viewed abortion as an issue for individual judgment was relatively low at 62%. This phenomenon, also observed in other countries, indicates that a higher proportion of individuals in their 20s, compared to older generations, favor government intervention in abortion issues. Specifically, the proportion favoring judicial punishment as a means of government intervention was significantly higher among those in their 20s compared to other age groups: 32.7% for those in their 20s, 17.5% for those in their 30s, 14.0% for those in their 40s, and 7.4% for those aged 50 and above.

The higher proportion of reserved attitudes towards abortion rights and the greater support for government intervention to reduce abortions among those in their 20s may be attributed to the fact that this age group most acutely experiences the adverse effects of abortion. Compared to previous generations, the current younger generation may have more readily decided on and undergone abortions, potentially exposing them more frequently to the pathological consequences of abortion. This could have strengthened negative perceptions of abortion among those in their 20s.

Abortion rights are already recognized by the public as a social right. However, this does not imply advocating for abortion itself, but rather freedom from social norms and constraints that place the burden of unwanted pregnancies solely on women. While the recognition of abortion rights may be positive for the advancement of women's rights, it is important to be mindful that it could also lead to the unintended consequence of increased abortion rates.

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[Figure 1] Abortion Should Be Left to Individual Judgment (%)

[Figure 2] Preferred Means of Government Intervention Among Those Who Support It (%)

[Figure 3] Proportion of Respondents Favoring Criminal Punishment for Abortions Among Those Who Support Government Intervention (%)