President Lee Jae-myung recently highlighted the exorbitant prices of sanitary napkins in South Korea, prompting excitement among consumers regarding the announcement of a new 100 won sanitary napkin. This initiative, spearheaded by Daiso in collaboration with Clean Country, aims to provide affordable hygiene products with the intention of making sanitary products accessible to poorer demographics. While the president expressed gratitude for this development on social media, stating that it signals progress, the concerns regarding the product’s quality and safety remain prevalent among consumers.

The push for affordable sanitary products traces back to the President's remarks during a Cabinet meeting in January, where he urged for lower-priced options that maintain a basic quality standard, suitable for all income levels. He criticized corporate practices that justify inflated prices under the guise of luxury, advocating instead for accessible options that grant consumers more choices. This dialogue reflects a broader concern regarding women’s health product prices in Korea, which have consistently been found to be higher than those in many other countries.

Statistics show that sanitary napkin prices in South Korea are disproportionately high; a report from the Women’s Environmental Network indicated that local sanitary napkins are, on average, 39.05% more expensive than foreign alternatives. Recent international studies have placed South Korea's menstrual hygiene product costs among the top tier globally, indicating a pressing need for reforms. This situation not only highlights economic disparities but also points to the necessity for ongoing discussions about the affordability of essential women’s health products, ultimately revealing the critical balance needed between pricing and product quality.