The Korean Food and Drug Administration announced [1] on May 7, 2012, that emergency contraceptives, known as morning-after pills [2], will become available for purchase over the counter. However, it has made non-emergency oral contraceptives, which were over the counter in the past, prescription-only drugs. An emergency contraceptive prescription will still be required for teenagers.
These sudden changes regarding drug regulations have sparked heated discussions online. While there are still debates going on [3] about the risks and effectiveness of emergency contraceptives among medical communities, many South Korean net users have expressed dissents on the reversal. As quoted in a Hangyoreh [4] [ko] news article, woman rights organizations and especially young unmarried women, have criticized the decision as making the sale of conventional contraceptives extra inconvenient.
Twitter user @redparco [6] reminded [7] [ko] people of the social stigma on unmarried women visiting gynaecologists in South Korean society, which is still relatively conservative and patriarchal:
유럽은 다들 그렇게 하고 있다는 얘길 하려면 한국에서도 그 나라들처럼 부인과 진료나 사전,사후 피임약의 접근성이 좋아져야지. 한국 미혼 여성들이 사전 피임약 처방 받으러 산부인과 자연스럽게 드나들 수 있는 분위기나 마련하고 할 말이지.
@marisusa [8]came up [9] [ko] with a similar argument:
[…] 사후피임약이라는 단어 뉘앙스가 피임책임을 여성 일방에게만 지우는 방식으로 악용될 우려가
ThinkThink [10], after inviting other users to join a discussion, speculated [11] [ko] that the sudden shift in policy has been driven by profit maximization, rather than care for public health. Shin Jae-eun commented right below the net user's post:
병원처방이 필요해지면 남의 눈 의식하다보니 못가기도 할꺼고 피임률은 줄고 오히려 낙태률이 높아질듯 싶네요[…]진짜 적극 반대네요.
While a majority of net users warn about the danger of emergency contraceptives, sometimes referring to them as a ‘hormone bomb’ [12], Twitter user @__mangmang [13] tweeted [14] [ko] [note: This link no longer exists]:
사후피임약은 그야말로 ‘응급'피임약이고, 일반의약품으로 전환되는 건 옳다고 생각한다. 그러나 경구피임약(사전 복용)이 전문의약품화되면 10대들, 작은 공동체에 사는 비수도권 여성들의 피임약 구매는 현실적으로 더 어려워질 거다.
Beside women's rights groups, the Catholic Church is also resisting the decision. The Catholic Church in Chungcheong Province even held a protest [15] in front of the Food and Drug Administration building, warning that [emergency contraceptive] pills could hurt the morals of people and give wrong lessons on the value of life especially to teenagers – an argument a lots of Twitter users do not buy into.
@symadam5 [16] tweeted [17] [ko]:
사후피임약 일반의약품 판매로 성문란,낙태조장을 주장하는 가톨릭은 […] 현실감각이 없는건지,이 나라 불법낙태와 해외입양율 보면 이미 최고수준인데 왠 상상력?사전피임못함 사후라도 해야니 긴급,응급피임약인데 72시간내 먹는게 낙태란건 과장이 심해
The reversed policy on the contraceptives is expected to come into effect as early as next year.