SEOUL — A YouTuber and a hospital director have been charged with murder following the release of a video that claims to document a 36-week abortion, sparking a significant legal and ethical controversy. The case has drawn intense scrutiny from both the public and authorities, leading to a broader investigation into the circumstances surrounding the procedure.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the investigation was triggered in June after a video surfaced on YouTube showing a woman in her 20s discussing her experience with a late-term abortion. The video led to the health ministry filing a murder complaint against both the woman and the doctor responsible for the procedure. Initial attempts to gather more information from Google were unsuccessful, prompting authorities to conduct their own analysis of the video content, which subsequently identified the individuals and location involved in the case.
The YouTuber has undergone two rounds of questioning, during which she confirmed having the abortion. Police have seized evidence related to the case and are currently analyzing it. “We have found no evidence that the video was fabricated,” stated a police official at a press briefing. Further investigation will focus on determining the exact gestational age at the time of the procedure and whether the fetus’s death was a result of abortion, murder, or stillbirth.
Additionally, the police are investigating potential violations of the Medical Service Act, which requires hospitals to install CCTV cameras in operating rooms. The law, revised last September, mandates recording surgical procedures at the patient’s request, a protocol found to be possibly breached in this instance.
As the case develops, police also plan to question an acquaintance of the YouTuber who allegedly assisted in locating the hospital where the abortion was performed.