South Korean presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung isn’t bald. However he’s having fun with the help of many bald voters over his push for presidency funds for hair loss therapies.
Since his proposal was disclosed earlier this week, hair loss has emerged as a hot-button subject forward of March’s presidential vote in South Korea, the place earlier elections have targeted on North Korea’s nuclear program, relations with the U.S., scandals and financial issues.
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On-line communities for bald individuals are flooded with messages supporting his proposal. There’s additionally sturdy criticism that it’s only a populism-driven marketing campaign pledge by Lee, the governing occasion candidate, to win votes.
Messages on social media embody, “Jae-myung bro. I really like you. I’ll implant you within the Blue Home” and “Your Excellency, Mr. President! You’re giving new hope to bald folks for the primary time in Korea.”
Lee advised reporters Wednesday that he thinks hair regrowth therapies ought to be coated by the nationwide medical insurance program.
“Please, tell us what has been inconvenient for you over hair-loss therapies and what have to be mirrored in insurance policies,” Lee wrote on Fb. “I’ll current an ideal coverage on hair-loss therapy.”
Lee, an outspoken liberal, is main public opinion surveys. Some critics have referred to as him a harmful populist.
“(Lee’s thought) might look like a essential step for many individuals worrying about their hair loss but it surely’s nothing however severe populism, provided that it might worsen the monetary stability of the state insurance coverage program,” the conservative Munhwa Ilbo newspaper stated in an editorial Thursday.
At present, hair loss associated to getting old and hereditary components shouldn’t be coated by the government-run insurance coverage program. Hair loss therapies are solely supported if the loss is brought on by sure ailments.
Studies say one in each 5 South Koreans suffers from hair loss.
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