Jung Min-ho has worked as a staff writer at The Korea Times since 2012, mostly covering social and political issues. He currently belongs to the Politics & City Desk where he covers topics such as health, labor and human rights. Prior to joining the team, he was responsible for covering North Korea and sports. His article about a biosecurity breach of Middle East respiratory syndrome won him an award from the Korea Science Journalists Association in 2016. He is also the co-author of the book, "Medical Pioneers of Korea" (2019). He served as the head of the international relations committee at the Journalists Association of Korea from 2021 to 2023.
Tax money for hair-loss drugs? President’s proposal sparks mixed reactions
A company official demonstrates a scalp tattoo procedure for people with hair loss at a beauty expo held at Coex in Seoul, Sept. 21, 2022. Newsis
By Jung Min-ho
Supporters cheer move, while critics demand priority for life-saving treatments
A debate over public funding for hair-loss treatment has intensified after President Lee Jae Myung ordered officials to review a possible expansion of health insurance coverage for the condition, describing baldness as “a matter of survival.”
Critics, however, argue that scarce health resources should first be directed to life‑threatening illnesses.
Speaking at the Ministry of Health and Welfare’s policy briefing to the president earlier this week, Lee said that while hair loss was once seen as a cosmetic issue, “these days it seems to be viewed as a matter of survival,” asking why it should not be treated as a disease within the national insurance system.
Currently, the National Health Insurance covers only “pathologic” forms of hair loss, such as alopecia areata, on a limited basis, while age‑related baldness is not eligible for reimbursement.
For many patients, the president’s remarks validated a long‑held belief that hair loss is not a trivial concern.
“If covered, it would certainly help my finances,” said a 40-year-old architect, surnamed Kim, who has taken hair loss medication over the past three years. “For many people, especially young men, losing hair means a lot more than just an appearance issue, as they often face discrimination and social pressure when they look for jobs or try to date.”
Kim said he pays about 200,000 won ($135) for a six-month supply of medication, a cost he doesn’t regard as unbearably high but one that he thinks would be meaningfully eased if coverage expands.
On Daedamo, one of the largest Korean hair‑loss communities online, such views are widely shared among members.
“Many people say things like, ‘It’s not a serious illness,’ but people here know that there are so many days when you feel like you want to die from depression,” one member said. “Even if the coverage amount or the number of prescriptions is limited, it really feels like hair‑loss medication might actually become eligible for insurance. Let’s hope so.”
But critics argue that expanding coverage for hair loss risks sending the wrong signal about priorities in a system with limited resources.
Kim Sung‑joo, head of the Korea Severe Disease Association and a patient with esophageal cancer, said that while he understands the concerns of people with hair loss, “when you think about the urgency of disease, the order of priorities and fiscal limits, it (President Lee’s comment) is somewhat disappointing.”
Kim pointed out that several immune‑checkpoint inhibitors for esophageal cancer still do not receive full reimbursement, forcing patients to pay tens of millions of won out of pocket.
“It’s not just esophageal cancer. There are many patients with rare and intractable diseases, who are suffering greatly because of the extremely high cost of their medications,” he said. “These are life‑threatening illnesses, and it is important to give serious consideration to how they are prioritized and how limited resources are allocated.”
Health authorities are also concerned that expanding the coverage to a non-life-threatening condition could significantly strain an already fragile insurance fund, given the large number of people who experience hair loss. Last year, around 240,000 people received some insurance support for hair‑loss conditions caused by medical reasons, but the total number of people losing their hair is unclear, with some experts saying it may be in the millions.
Speaking on a radio program on Wednesday, Health Minister Jeong Eun-kyeong said there would be a significant rise in costs.
Representatives at the ministry and the National Health Insurance Service said they are now trying to estimate how big the fiscal impact would be as they begin discussions on the issue. According to ministry data released last year, the insurance fund is projected to swing from a surplus of 463.3 billion won this year to a deficit in 2026.