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Cheaper sanitary pads on the rise after president's comments, but critics call for institutional reforms

Published: 05 Apr. 2026, 14:30 Updated: 05 Apr. 2026, 18:36

Cheaper sanitary pads are displayed at a Homeplus branch in western Seoul on March 3. [YONHAP]

Cheaper-than-average sanitary pad products are emerging in Korea after President Lee Jae Myung noted that prices in Korea are higher than in other countries, but critics say that institutional reforms are needed to guarantee what is described as a “universal right to menstruation” rather than relying on temporary reactive price measures.

In a survey comparing the prices of sanitary pads by country, Korea ranked No. 7 for the highest average price of sanitary pads on the market, according to a National Assembly Research Service report released on Thursday. The study, conducted by a research institute in Britain in 2024, found that a single sanitary pad in Korea costs $0.113, roughly twice the $0.058 price of Japan.

A separate analysis covering U.S. states and 107 countries also showed similar results. When accounting for total expenses during menstruation — including sanitary pads, tampons and medication such as ibuprofen — Korea was listed as one of the higher-costing countries in that report. Algeria recorded $34.05, Jordan $26.51 and Korea $25.40.

President Lee had pointed out that “Korean sanitary pads seem to be about 40 percent more expensive than overseas products” during a Cabinet meeting on Jan. 20.

“We should also produce cheaper options for low-income people,” he added.

However, cross-country price comparisons have limitations. The types of menstrual products commonly manufactured and sold differ by country, with even disposable pads varying in absorption and physical length, and their prices vary widely depending on distribution channels and sales strategies — all of which makes it difficult to calculate standardized prices.

Domestic consumers have consistently raised concerns about the burden of menstrual products. For example, prices of sanitary pads rose by 19.3 percent last year compared to 2020, according to government data. This increase was lower than that of toilet paper, which rose by 21.3 percent, but higher than that of toothbrushes, which rose by 3 percent, and toothpaste, which rose by 12.5 percent.

A 2023 survey by the Korean Women’s Environmental Network found that 8 out of 10 sanitary pad buyers said that they considered sanitary pads expensive. Based on the average price of sanitary pads and menstrual cycles, the annual cost is estimated at around 180,000 won ($119). As demand for organic and premium products increased following the 2017 controversy over harmful substances in sanitary pads, the actual financial burden is likely to be higher.

Critics are pushing to move beyond temporary measures such as price controls or collusion investigations and instead expand discussions from the perspective of health and human rights. New York City and New Zealand, for example, treat menstrual products as essential goods rather than consumer products and mandate public facilities to provide them for free.

“The universal right to menstruation means that all women should be guaranteed basic rights related to menstruation,” the National Assembly Research Service said. “If understanding of universal menstrual rights expands, discussions on the safety and price transparency of menstrual products could extend to consumer protection policies for essential daily goods as a whole.”

This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.
BY KIM KYUNG-HEE [[email protected]]