Regarding the "hair loss drug support" that President Lee Jae-myung requested during a work briefing in Dec., the Ministry of Health and Welfare is reviewing support for providing youth health vouchers.
The Ministry of Health and Welfare said in an explainer on Jan. 2 that it is "reviewing various support measures for hair loss treatment support," adding that it "plans to prepare measures after comprehensively reviewing medical necessity and cost-effectiveness, and through discussions at bodies such as the Health Insurance Policy Deliberation Committee."
The health voucher is a pilot project included in the 2nd National Health Insurance Comprehensive Plan (2024–2028) that the ministry released in 2024. It provides as vouchers (usage coupons) 10% of the previous year's national health insurance premium paid (up to 120,000 won per year) to people ages 20 to 34 who use medical services fewer than four times a year (once per quarter). It is known that officials are also reviewing a plan to include hair loss treatment for young people within the scope of what the voucher can be used for.
Earlier, on Dec. 16 during the ministry's work briefing, President Lee Jae-myung addressed hair loss, saying, "In the past, it was seen as cosmetic, but these days it seems to be regarded as a matter of survival," and requested a review of applying health insurance coverage.