S. Korea abortion debate heats up after crackdown focus 03/12/2010

S. Korea abortion debate heats up after crackdown focus 03/12/2010 SEOUL — Abortion has suddenly become a hot topic in South Korea after years of near-indifference, with a group of doctors seeking a crackdown on pro-life grounds and the government eager to boost the birthrate. The procedure — officially outlawed in most cases — has for decades been widely tolerated as successive administrations sought to control population growth in the crowded nation. More than 340,000 abortions were conducted in 2005, according to the latest health ministry survey. Some 95 percent of them were illegal under a widely flouted law permitting abortions up to 24 weeks only if the mother’s health is in danger, the foetus is malformed or the pregnancy resulted from rape or incest.... MORE Source:  The Daily Tribune ALTERNATE URL: http://www.tribune.net.ph/commentary/20100312com6.html

COMMENTARY EDITORIAL A battle made in heaven FRONTLINE Not a matter of more exposure focus Mexican women to wed in first for Latin America DIE HARD III Toward the Goliath-oligarchy’s fall SILVER LINING Fully booked focus S. Korea abortion debate heats up after crackdown FEATURE Americans shaken by Main Street USA’s Jihad Jane