President Lee Jae Myung has publicly expressed frustration over the high cost of sanitary pads in South Korea, a long-standing problem that has drawn criticism from citizens and activists. Currently, prices of sanitary pads in the country range between ₩11,200 and ₩28,000 KRW ($8.20 – $20.50 USD) per pack, depending on the brand and type.
One of the dominant brands, Yuhan-Kimberly, which controls about 50% of the market, sells:
- Regular Pack (16 pieces): ₩15,680 KRW ($11.48 USD)
- Large Pack (16 pieces): ₩21,280 KRW ($15.58 USD)
Some premium or imported products can cost up to ₩28,000 KRW ($20.50 USD) per pack. On average, a woman who uses four pads during the day and one at night could spend ₩16,800 to ₩28,000 ($12.30 – $20.50 USD) per menstrual cycle, a significant monthly burden.
“I heard that sanitary pads in our country are incredibly expensive,” President Lee said. “We need to investigate this. I wonder if monopolistic practices are at play, especially since prices here would be 39% higher than in other countries.”
South Korean broadcaster YTN even produced a sand art piece highlighting how tampon prices are disproportionately high compared to citizens’ incomes, further highlighting the urgency of the issue.
Sources: Netizenbuzz
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