Despite measures implemented by North Korea
to step up crackdowns on abortions in recent years the number of illegal abortions within the country continues to rise, particularly those performed by medical students specializing in obstetrics and gynecology.
βThe government has beefed up its clampdown
on abortions and contraceptives in a bid to encourage childbirth. [Ilegal] abortions have become even harder to get in hospitals and women seeking the
procedures are consequently turning to black markets,β a source from South
Pyongan Province informed Daily NK on August 17th. βWomen who make their
livelihoods doing business are more likely to have abortions since pregnancy
would hinder their economic activities.β
This news was verified by a separate source
in South Pyongan Province and an additional source in North Pyongan Province.
In 2000, North Korea banned abortions in an
attempt to boost the population following a devastating famine that wiped out
a significant portion of the population, up to 10% according to some figures. While the procedure is still illegal struggling doctors have continued to perform the procedures if the patient is able to line their pockets with the requisite bribes.
As the source put it, for an increasing number of women, βchildbirth marks the beginning of hardships,β driving more and more to
seek out abortions and/or contraceptives by any means possible. The exorbitance of the aforementioned bribes demanded by doctors with
state institutions aligns with the severity of the punishments to potentially befall them if their activities were to be discovered by the
authorities. The result has been the emergence of a black market for cheaper abortion procedures catering to those unable to meet the prohibitive demands, according to
the source, who noted summer break as the busiest season.
While summer vacation from university in the North
has long been a time for struggling students to furiously work to earn extra
cash, typically offering tutoring
services for foreign language learning. This practice is so important, in fact, βmany college students focus
more on earning money and arranging the wherewithal for tuition and school
supplies, rather than completing their summer break homework,β she asserted.
For obstetrics medical students, on the
other hand, performing black market abortions at cheaper prices dwarfs profits
of those engaging in tutoring or other services. Wary obstetricians have left the door for this market wide open for young students to jump in and capitalize.
The degree of these profits varies, as medical students are paid hourly wages
based on the number of patients they treat. On average, however, they earn
50,000 KPW [7 USD] per day, amassing to more than 100 USD monthly, the source explained.
Unsurprisingly, the drive for money far
outweighs the negative social connotations that come with such work.
βPerforming illegal abortions cannot gain the (social) recognition that foreign
language-tutoring confers but it’s still the top choice among medical students
to earn money during the fleeting summer break,β she concluded.
*The content of this article was broadcast to the North Korean people via Unification Media Group.
