The presidential office released its position toward a petition, posted on its homepage, whose signatories exceeded 200,000 in late October.
Cho Kuk, the senior presidential secretary for civil affairs, said the government will resume a survey on abortion next year and will make efforts to promote public debate to resolve the dispute.
Abortion is illegal in Korea except when the mother faces a serious health risk, or in cases of rape, incest or hereditary disorders.
The petition to decriminalize the practice was filed in late September. On Oct. 29, the number of signatories surpassed the threshold which requires the presidential office to answer.
Korean political commentator Jung-sik Seo looks into the controversy.
