WASHINGTON — Human Rights Watch (HRW) has urged South Korea to ensure wider access to abortion pills as the country moves to formally introduce the medication next year, describing the initiative as an important step but warning that restrictions could make abortion services inaccessible. In a press release issued Sunday, the New York-based international human rights group said the Seoul government's plan to formally introduce medication abortion in 2027 would help address a longstanding regulatory gap but criticized proposed restrictions on its use. "Allowing the use of abortion pills is an important step, but South Korean lawmakers need to ensure that regulations aren't so restrictive that abortions are inaccessible and unaffordable," Susanne Bergsten, acting women's rights research assistant at HRW, said in the release. "South Korea's National Assembly should swiftly align abortion legislation with international human rights standards to protect patients and providers," she added. Last month, the South Korean government announced a plan to formally allow the use of abortion pills by