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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
World
Raphael Rashid in Seoul

‘Matter of survival’: South Korean president urges public health cover for hair loss

South Korea's President Lee Jae Myung
South Korea's President Lee Jae Myung is considering extending public health insurance to cover hair-loss treatments. Photograph: YONHAP/EPA

South Korean president Lee Jae Myung has instructed his government to consider extending public health insurance to cover hair-loss treatments, arguing that baldness has become a “matter of survival” rather than a cosmetic concern for young people.

The proposal, which has since faced a backlash from medical professionals and conservative figures, was announced during a policy briefing on Tuesday and would expand coverage beyond the limited medical treatments currently available for certain types of hair loss.

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