wishing for assisted death with dignity should apply to the review committee, and it is
stipulated that the assisted death with dignity review committee be established to deliberate
and decide (draft Articles 20-2 and 20-3).
The review committee determines the eligibility of the applicant for an assisted death with
dignity if the applicant meets certain requirements.89) The assisted death with dignity can be
implemented when one month has elapsed from the date of the decision, and the applicant
expressed his/her intention to the doctor in charge and two specialists to request an assisted
death with dignity (draft Article 20-4). The application of the crime of aiding and abetting
suicide under the Criminal Act is excluded for doctors in charge of assisting death with
dignity (draft Article 20-7), and matters necessary for the method of assisting death with
dignity will be prescribed by Presidential Decree.
This proposed amendment is known as the first bill to stipulate “assisted death with
dignity.”90) Since the amendment was proposed, there have been concerns and problems
raised in the religious and medical groups.91) Religious circles opposed the amendment
mainly on the grounds of promoting a trend of contempt for life and the possibility of abuse
due to the subjectivity of “unacceptable suffering.” The Korean Society for Hospice and
Palliative Care proposed that care support to help patients spend the end of their lives with
dignity should take precedence over assisted death legislation. On the other hand, the
Ministry of Health and Welfare is of the opinion that sufficient social consensus should be
reached prior to introducing assisted death with dignity.92)
Public opinion on the amendment appears to be generally positive. According to a regular
survey conducted by Korea Research in July 2022,93) the opinion in favor of assisted death
legislation was as high as 82%, and in a 2021 survey conducted by Professor Yoon
Young-ho's team at Seoul National University Hospital,94) which studied the attitudes
the doctor in charge.
89) 1) Considered a terminally ill patient, 2) experiencing unacceptable suffering, and 3) the applicant must wish for
assisted death with dignity according to his/her will.
90) KBS, First bill in Korea on “Assisted Death with Dignity Act,” How far has ‘death with dignity’ has come?, Jun. 16, 2022.
91) Christian Today, “Assisted Death with Dignity Act? ‘Right to die’ turning into ‘obligation to die,’ Jul. 22, 2022.
92) Health and Welfare Committee of the National Assembly, Specialist Review Report, Nov. 2022.
93) Korea Research Weekly Report (No. 188-2) Inside public opinion: the right to choose death with dignity. The
people’s opinion on the legislation and support of death with dignity, Jul. 12, 2022.
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