South Korea’s president has sparked debate after suggesting public healthcare should cover hair loss treatment, arguing it has become a “matter of survival” for young men.
According to a report from The Hankyoreh, South Korean President Lee Jae-myung raised the idea during a policy discussion, asking officials to examine whether hair loss treatments could be included under the country’s national health insurance system.
In South Korea, public health insurance currently only covers hair loss linked to specific medical conditions such as illness or injury. Common male pattern baldness is excluded, meaning patients must pay out of pocket for medication, procedures, and ongoing treatment.
“Hair loss is a disease, is it not?” Lee said, adding that for young people, hair loss has become “a matter of survival.” While Lee did not announce a policy change, he has urged officials to study whether expanding coverage would be feasible, saying they should “take a look at how much it would cost.”
South Korean President says hair loss is a “matter of survival”
The comments quickly spread online and triggered mixed reactions, with supporters arguing that appearance plays a major role in employment prospects, dating, and social confidence in South Korea’s highly competitive society.
However, critics have questioned whether public funds should be used for treatments widely viewed as cosmetic, particularly as the healthcare system faces broader funding and staffing pressures.
Medical officials also pushed back, noting that hereditary hair loss does not present non-cosmetic symptoms and is not life-threatening under current medical classifications, raising concerns about where limited public insurance resources should be spent.
There’s currently no confirmed proposal or timeline for whether South Korea’s public healthcare system will cover hair loss treatment, but officials are now examining the financial viability of covering such treatments.
