Gov`t eyes raising higher medical charges to reduce abortion

The government is considering raising medical charges for obstetrics services as part of a nationwide anti-abortion campaign, a high-ranking official said Tuesday and Yonhap News reported.

"In order to cut off illegal abortions in the country, we are seeking measures to increase medical charges for obstetrics," said the official at the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Family Affairs, declining to be named.

The ministry will launch a task force later this month, which consists of government officials, medical doctors and members of civic groups.

The presidential office last month announced it will launch a fight against abortion in the country as Korea again chalked up one of the lowest birthrates in the world this year.

Korea allows for "selective" abortion if the health of a mother could be jeopardized by the pregnancy, when the pregnancy was caused by rape or if the parents suffer from a serious hereditary disease.

According to the law here, the mother is sentenced to a one-year jail term or fined 2 million won ($1,732) if she goes through an abortion for other reasons. The doctor who performed the operation is sentenced to a two-year jail term.