The government will launch a program to provide menstrual products to all women regardless of age or income, following persistent concerns over high prices.
The Ministry of Gender Equality and Family announced at a Cabinet meeting on the 10th that it will implement the "Public Menstrual Products Dream Pilot Program" from July to December this year. The initiative will install free vending machines at public facilities including community centers, libraries, and village halls to distribute menstrual products to all women at no cost.
The program aims to eliminate blind spots in the existing system by expanding eligibility to all women and enhancing women's health rights. Currently, the ministry provides monthly vouchers worth 14,000 won for menstrual products to vulnerable youth aged 9 to 24.
Pilot regions will be selected based on population size, industrial conditions, and lifestyle patterns. The required budget is approximately 3 billion won from national funds. The government will fully fund this year's pilot program, with plans to match local government contributions starting with the full-scale program next year. President Lee Jae-myung previously noted at a January Cabinet meeting that domestic menstrual product prices are higher than overseas, directing officials to explore producing low-cost products for free distribution.
The ministry also reported measures to strengthen support for stalking and dating violence victims. Key initiatives include enhanced deletion of stalking-related information online and joint monitoring with police and counseling centers for high-risk victims. The ministry will also pursue legislation to include dating violence victims under the Stalking Prevention Act's support provisions.
Additionally, the ministry will develop lifecycle-specific programs for career-interrupted women and vocational training based on industry demand in digital and artificial intelligence sectors. It also plans to expand family-friendly company certifications and provide gender-balanced organizational culture consulting to businesses to foster gender-equal workplaces.
