Hair Loss Treatment Subsidy Proposal by President Lee Divides South Korea

Sat Dec 20 2025 12:31:45 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung's proposal to include hair loss treatments in the national health insurance scheme sparks mixed reactions among citizens. While some applaud the move as progressive, others view it as a political tactic amid pressing social issues.

President Lee Jae Myung has proposed subsidizing hair loss treatments through South Korea's national health insurance, suggesting the issue has evolved from cosmetic concerns to a matter of survival. While social media has seen support for the initiative, there is also skepticism from citizens who question the necessity and financial implications amidst the nation's healthcare deficit. Critics argue that funds should prioritize more serious health issues.

South Korea's well-coiffed president is on a mission to help the country's balding residents.

In his crosshairs: the national health insurance scheme, which he suggests should foot the bill for hair loss treatments.

President Lee Jae Myung made the suggestion to officials at a briefing this week, arguing that medical treatments for hair loss used to be seen as cosmetic, but now they are viewed as a matter of survival.

South Korea's national health insurance currently covers treatments for hair loss caused by medical conditions. However, it excludes people with hereditary hair loss because that does not threaten someone's life, health minister Jeong Eun-kyeong explained at the meeting on Tuesday.

Is it just a matter of whether to define hereditary disease as a disease? Lee asked in response.

Lee's proposal has earned him praise among social media users, one of whom called him the best president in history. However, not everyone is as enthused - not even those who stand to benefit from subsidized hair loss treatment.

The move feels a bit like a vote-grabbing policy, says Song Ji-hoon, a 32-year-old Seoul resident who takes hair loss medication.

Saving money sounds nice, but honestly it costs less than 300,000 won ($200) a year, so… is it even necessary?

In South Korea, a country notorious for its strict beauty standards, baldness comes with a stigma that can prove especially troubling for young people. Out of 240,000 people in the country who visited hospitals for hair loss last year, 40% were in their 20s or 30s, according to authorities.

Mr. Lee says while he would be thankful for subsidized hair-loss drugs, the national health insurance system is already running a deficit and struggling financially.

This is not a situation where money can just be handed out, he adds, emphasizing that baldness is a natural part of aging, not an illness or disease.

To address the financial burden that hair loss treatments would cause to the system, President Lee suggested that authorities could impose coverage limits.

However, some critics argue priority should be given to helping more vulnerable members of society. The Korean Medical Association stated that government funds should first go to more serious diseases before hair loss.

The proposal was also a feature of Lee's unsuccessful 2022 presidential campaign, where he faced accusations of using gimmicks to attract young male voters. Despite winning the presidency, his messages about hair loss were cut from the latest campaign.

"There is no reason he needs to be bound by the promise this time," said an associate professor of political science, suggesting that the president may be trying to expand his support base.

As part of a broader strategy, Lee is also advocating for the inclusion of obesity drugs in national health insurance, highlighting the needs of young people facing financial difficulties.