India, Sept. 17 -- South Korea plans to approve abortion pills for the first time by early 2027, a move the government says will make medication abortions safer and bring them under the country's healthcare system, while drawing opposition from religious groups and concerns from doctors.

The government announced Wednesday that it aims to allow medication abortions for women up to nine weeks pregnant by the first quarter of 2027. For the first two years, abortion pills would be prescribed and dispensed directly by doctors, officials said.

"Introducing medication abortion is significant because it's a step to make sure that ending pregnancy is done more safely and within the national healthcare system," Gender Equality and Family Minister...