A video posted on YouTube by a woman claiming to be nine months pregnant and having undergone an abortion has ignited widespread controversy in South Korea.
The video — which has been viewed by many and gone viral — has prompted the police to initiate a forced investigation to determine the uploader’s identity.
The woman in the video, who identified herself as being in her twenties, explained that she initially believed she had gained weight but discovered her pregnancy during a medical examination.
She decided to have an abortion, sharing scenes from an ultrasound in the video where a doctor can be seen attempting to persuade her to continue with the pregnancy.
The woman mentioned spending approximately ₩9.00 million KRW (about $ 6,480 USD) on the abortion procedure and described enduring “120 hours in hell.”
The video has sparked intense online debate, with many netizens condemning the act as “essentially murder” and accusing the doctor of unethical behavior. However, some viewers speculated that the video might be a hoax. Thus, a police investigation is required to expose the truth.
Earlier today, a spokesperson from the National Investigation Headquarters of the National Police Agency announced during a regular press conference that they had executed a search and seizure warrant on YouTube to identify the individual behind the video.
The police claimed they are currently verifying the facts and have vowed to take stringent action following a thorough legal review.
The investigation was initially requested by the Ministry of Health and Welfare on July 12.
A police representative clarified that the Ministry of Health and Welfare had referred the case for legal review as a potential murder charge due to the constitutional inconsistencies surrounding the crime of abortion. The exact condition of the fetus needs to be determined to decide the appropriate charges.
Emphasizing the gravity of the situation, the spokesperson noted that at 36 weeks, the pregnancy was almost at full term, making this case significantly different from typical abortion cases. If the claims in the video are accurate, extensive research will be required to find a suitable method of prosecution.
Source: Hankyung
