Sanitary pad (Image courtesy of Getty Images Bank)
SEOUL, Aug. 26 (Korea Bizwire) — The soaring cost of sanitary pads, a necessity for nearly all women, has become a flashpoint in South Korea, where inflation is squeezing household budgets and driving consumers to seek cheaper alternatives abroad.
Major brands such as Bodyfit and Good Feel raised prices by 100 to 900 won (about 8 to 70 cents) per pack earlier this year, citing higher raw material costs, a weak won, and supply chain pressures tied to extreme weather.
According to consumer advocacy groups, sanitary pads ranked among the top six products with the steepest price increases in late 2024.
Research by the Korean Women’s Environmental Network found that sanitary pads in South Korea cost nearly 40 percent more per unit than in other countries — about 196 won higher on average.
The disparity has prompted some women to buy in bulk from overseas or bring supplies home from trips to Japan, Taiwan, and the United States, where prices are markedly lower.
On social media, frustration has boiled over. “It feels like a punishment for being a woman,” one user wrote. Others shared anecdotes of filling suitcases with sanitary pads abroad, or struggling to balance the expense alongside rent, food, and transport.
University student Cho Hwan-hee, 23, said, “Living off part-time wages, it’s a heavy burden when even essentials like sanitary pads keep getting more expensive.”
Support program poster for menstrual hygiene products for female youth. (Image courtesy of Dobong District Office)
The issue carries particular weight for low-income women. In 2016, reports that some teenagers resorted to using shoe insoles in place of sanitary pads sparked national outrage and led to a wave of donation campaigns.
NGOs including Good Neighbors and G Foundation, as well as manufacturers such as Yuhan-Kimberly, continue to run sanitary pad donation programs for adolescents from disadvantaged families.
The government provides monthly vouchers worth 14,000 won (about $10) to girls and young women aged 9 to 24 from low-income households, distributed via the “National Happiness Card.” But experts say the support is insufficient given rising costs.
“Sanitary pads are an essential item, and the government should strengthen direct subsidies rather than relying on market controls,” said Oh Yoon-jin, a professor of social welfare at Sejong Cyber University. Other scholars have urged adjusting voucher amounts to keep pace with inflation.
As prices rise faster than wages, South Korea’s debate over menstrual equity — the right to affordable and accessible sanitary products — is intensifying, forcing policymakers to confront a basic but politically charged issue of everyday life.
Lina Jang (linajang@koreabizwire.com)
