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South Korean President Lee Jae Myung has sparked a national debate by suggesting that treatment for hereditary hair loss should be covered under the country’s national health insurance. Speaking during a live-streamed year-end policy briefing, Lee argued that baldness, long dismissed as a cosmetic concern, is increasingly seen by younger Koreans as “a matter of survival” in an image-conscious society. Currently, insurance covers hair loss linked to medical conditions such as cancer, but excludes hereditary baldness. Critics warn that expanding coverage could further strain the insurance system, which recorded a 7.7 billion dollar deficit last year. Medical groups have also urged the government to prioritise life-threatening illnesses. Still, the proposal highlights how deeply beauty standards shape social and political debates in South Korea.

Baldness Sparks Political Debate | Firstpost Spotlight | N18G

https://media.nw18.com/media-assets/wbx6pq/c2482b85-1c5c-425c-b63f-b3c3840d6091/wbx6pq/12-2025/19-2025/2025-DECEMBER-1912-1912 SOUTH KOREA LEE_SHORTS-jYEWcc7KdD-1912-SOUTH-KOREA-LEESHORTS-gum36lf42I/manifest.m3u8

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