55. The number of indictment of illegal abortion is from 10 to 20 cases per year.18 This number includes both women and medical practitioners who performed the procedures. Number of Cases/Year 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 5 2 7 9 12 13 20 15 32 13 37 39 54 45 50 40 37 15 44 48 66 58 70 55 Indictment Nonindictment Total 56. The results of first trials on crime of abortion from 2006 to 2015 are presented in the table below. From 2006 to 2009, most cases ended in probation or suspended sentence, however, since 2010, some illegal abortion cases have received imprisonment sentences for a limited term and the number of monetary penalties has increased. It is pointed out that the Government’s intention to tap into crime of abortion as a measure to tackle low birthrate is behind the reinforcement of punishment. For example, “prevention of abortion” was put forward as one of responses to handle low birthrate at the Government’s “First Strategic Meeting on Responses to Low Birthrate” held on November 25 th 2009.19 <Table 12> Results of First Trials on Crime of Abortion from 2006 to 2015 (Source: Supreme Court of Korea 『Yearbook of Judicature』) Results Year Total Fixed-term Imprisonment Suspension of Execution Pecuniary Suspension Punishment of Sentence 2006 7 1 1 2007 7 4 3 2008 3 2 1 Others 5 18 Supreme Prosecutors’ Office Crime Analysis (2006~2013) It was impossible to identify the number of indictment and non-indictment cases related to crime of abortion since 2014 because the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office started to release statistics combining crime of abortion with other crimes from that year. 19 Press Release from the Office of Secretary to the President for National Future and Vision, Blue House (2009. 11. 25.)