Lee Myung-shik challenges South Korea's assisted dying ban

Lee Myung-shik, a 65-year-old South Korean man suffering from acute myelitis, has filed a landmark legal challenge against South Korea's ban on assisted dying with the Constitutional Court_of_Korea. He argues that the ban is unconstitutional, citing his excruciating pain and the right to decide on his own death when medicine offers no cure. Lee Myung-shik had previously considered traveling to Switzerland for assisted death with Dignitas but halted his plans due to the risk of his daughter facing prison time under South Korea's Criminal Act. His lawyer, Kim Jae-ryon, is cautiously optimistic about the outcome, noting a global trend towards allowing assisted dying and strong public support in South Korea, as indicated by a survey from the South Korea — Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs. However, the initiative to legalize medically assisted dying has faced resistance from groups like the Korean Medical Association, suggesting a prolonged public debate.