This country's bold move: President declares hair loss a 'matter of survival', seeks insurance coverage

New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu) : While health debates in many countries remain limited to infrastructure, diseases, and medicines, South Korea brought a debate to the center stage in 2025, capturing global attention. South Korean President Lee Jae-myung dismissed hair loss as merely a cosmetic issue, calling it a “matter of survival” and emphasizing the need to bring its treatment under public health insurance.

The measure was announced during a policy briefing, and will expand coverage beyond the currently limited medical treatments available for certain types of hair loss. South Korea operates a universal insurance scheme, funded by premiums calculated based on income. Currently, the scheme only covers hair loss caused by medical reasons, such as alopecia areata. Most treatments for common male pattern baldness are excluded from coverage.

Following the president's statement, baldness in Korea suddenly became a serious issue, not a casual conversation, but a serious issue involving mental health, self-esteem, and social pressure. They say that hair loss affects millions of young people and adults, leading to depression, social isolation, and low self-confidence. Therefore, dismissing it as merely a cosmetic problem is unfair.

South Korea is already considered one of the world's most beauty- and self-image-conscious societies. Between K-pop culture, corporate competition, and societal expectations, the pressure on appearance is intense. A 2024 survey of young people found that 98 percent believed attractive people enjoy social advantages. According to experts, hair loss is directly linked to careers, relationships, and mental stability for many people there. The president's statement brought this social reality to the political stage.

The president first proposed this policy as a candidate during his 2022 presidential campaign, but it was unsuccessful. At the time, it was criticized as a populist promise. The proposal has received mixed reactions. Some criticized it as a "problem for the rich" and questioned why government spending should be necessary to cover baldness when serious illnesses are still not fully covered. Meanwhile, mental health experts and young people have called it a need of the hour, arguing that mental suffering cannot be viewed differently from physical illness in modern society.

According to government sources, this is currently only a policy-level suggestion, but if implemented, some medical treatments related to hair loss could receive partial or full insurance coverage. This move would not only change the definition of health policy but also determine how “health” is viewed in the future.