Support for Menstrual Products for Female Adolescents Expanded to Ages 9 to 24

Support for livelihood, medical, housing, and education benefit recipients, near-poor, etc.
Those born between 1998 and 2003 can apply for sanitary products starting in May

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance Hong Nam-ki and others are attending the Cabinet meeting held at the Government Seoul Office in Jongno-gu, Seoul on the 12th, listening to Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum's remarks. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

The age range for menstrual product support for low-income adolescents will be expanded from 11-18 years old to 9-24 years old.

On the 12th, the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family announced that the partial amendment to the Enforcement Decree of the Youth Welfare Support Act was approved at the Cabinet meeting. The Youth Welfare Support Act was amended last April, and the enforcement decree includes provisions that make it mandatory for the state and local governments to provide menstrual products to female adolescents, which was previously discretionary. The amended enforcement decree will take effect from the 21st.

Starting this year, the age and number of female adolescents from low-income families eligible for menstrual product support will more than double. Based on last year’s data, about 114,000 people received support, but from this year, approximately 244,000 will receive menstrual products.

Recipients of livelihood, medical, housing, and education benefits under the National Basic Livelihood Security Act, legally designated lower-income groups, and eligible recipients under the Single-Parent Family Support Act aged 19-24 (born between 1998 and 2003) will be able to apply for menstrual products starting in May. Those aged 9-10 have been receiving support since January.

The support amount is 12,000 KRW per month, and recipients can receive support starting from the month they apply. Applications can be made by visiting the community service center or through the Bokjiro website, after which a National Happiness Card will be issued to purchase products at online and offline retailers.

The Ministry of Gender Equality and Family also added holders of the Mental Health Clinical Psychologist qualification to the eligibility criteria for 'staff performing practical duties for youth' at city and provincial youth counseling and welfare centers in the amended enforcement decree. This is to actively respond to mental health issues such as youth suicide and self-harm.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.