낙태죄 헌법소원과 여성의 ‘목소리’[2] ―법과 낙태실천과의 관계를 중심으로―

Abstract

This study examines the dynamics between the law of abortion and the women’s voices in Korea. Since most of the abortions in Korea have been illegal due to the law’s narrow scope of the permission, women could not but have been silent about their experiences on abortion. In the chapter 2, it examines the Articles of Abortion in the Criminal Code of Korea, the Articles 269 & 270 [Abortion by the Medical Personnel], and the Article 14 of Mother and Child Health Act. Particularly, this article critically reviews the Constitutional decision which was held in 2012 regarding the Abortion in the Criminal Code. The Constitutional Court in Korea ruled this article to be congruent with the Constitution. According to the Court, the ‘life of the fetus’ as the legal interest(保護法益) of those clauses has more importance in its public interest, while that of ‘women’s right to elf determination’ has only the private and supplementary interest. In the chapter 3, it presents the result of the empirical survey that investigated women’s experiences of, and perceptions about, abortion. The survey interviewed 34 women, who had or had not abortion. Doing this, it is intended to make the women’s voice audible especially at the court that does not seem accommodate the women’s reasoning even in the isseus of abortion. In this article, mainly two kinds of questions were dealt with: “Would you give a birth to a unwanted-child, when the law forbids the abortion?” and “Would the abortion increase, when the law permits it?” The two questions contains basically the same logics regarding the relation between the abortion law and the practice. For the former question, 84.6% of the respondents had the opinion of “No birth to the unwanted child although the law was against it” and 15.4% replied that “I would choose to give a birth to the baby.” Main rationale for these responses were found in the responsibility of child-rearing; the birth of the such child causes the child being unhappy; my own choice is important; no government would raise my child; different positions between women and men, but the law does not accept the women’s. There are also opinions about the “importance of life no matter what.” For the latter question, 78.6% of respondents replied that “The abortion would not increase due to the legal permission,” whereas 24.1% thought that “The abortion would increase when it is legally allowed.” For this question, majority of the respondents expressed their opinion that they would choose abortion or giving a birth to the baby regardless of law since the issue is on her own, her life, and the family rather than the law and the state. In conclusion, suggestions for philosophical grounds of the abortion law and policies are made. The article emphasizes that the law should accommodation women’s reasoning and experiences. The connection between mother-child; the importance of care in the notion of ‘life(生命)’, and reproductive rights. In sum, “there is no easy abortion in the world.” Allowing abortion as the women’s decision will be the first step to accommodate women’s need in the system of reproductive policy in Korea.