Making 'Sanitary Pads' as Standard in Public Restrooms as 'Toilet Paper'! South Korea to Widely Install Free Sanitary Pad Dispensers: Two Pads Every 20 Seconds

To create a more secure environment for every woman in need of sanitary pads, South Korea's Ministry of Gender Equality and Family has launched a pilot project this year called 'Everyone's Period Products,' installing free sanitary pad dispensers in public areas. Anyone in need can receive a two-pad pack, enhancing women's health rights. The 'Everyone's Period Products' initiative aims to ensure that people can access public period supplies without hesitation or burden whenever needed, promoting women's health rights and contributing to stabilizing the price of sanitary products. This year, the program is being piloted in 12 regions, with plans to expand nationwide next year. The distribution method allows users to freely collect medium-sized (26 cm) two-pad packs from dispensers installed in public facilities and other designated areas. This month, the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family launched its public sanitary product support service and began rolling out automated dispensers in pilot regions starting from the 20th. Pilot sites were primarily selected based on high foot traffic and the availability of on-site management staff. A Central News Agency reporter visited a sanitary pad dispenser outside a public restroom near Gwangmyeong Cave in Gwangmyeong City, Gyeonggi Province, as well as a sanitary pad manufacturing plant in Cheongju. The ministry stated that the dispensers feature barrier-free designs, including braille and voice guidance. To prevent misuse, each dispenser currently releases one pack every 20 seconds. In the future, QR code systems may be introduced to manage individual usage frequency. The ministry also plans to launch a dedicated web portal linked to QR codes by the end of this year, displaying dispenser locations and real-time inventory via an interactive map to further enhance user information access. Initial discussions have already been held with platforms like Naver and KakaoMap, with implementation expected soon. The government is collaborating with Clean Nara, a well-known manufacturer of toilet paper, wet wipes, and sanitary pads—translated as 'Clean Nation'—to ensure product quality. The Cheongju factory serves as a core production hub for both paper goods and daily hygiene products. Lee Dong-ryeol (name transliterated), CEO of Clean Nara, stated that the 'Everyone's Period Products' initiative is a significant public service project contributing to broader access to hygiene products in Korea, adding, 'We are doing our utmost to ensure stable supply.' He emphasized that the product supplied under this program, 'Pure Cotton Zero,' is manufactured to the same quality standards and specifications as commercial versions, ensuring safety and reliability. A Clean Nara representative confirmed that the company has agreed to supply 5.4 million two-pad packs this year, using its best-selling fragrance-free product, 'Pure Cotton Zero,' a product already recognized and trusted by consumers. The representative stressed, 'We are not lowering quality or changing materials to meet pricing demands.' Only the outer packaging has been modified to a two-pad format with a special design. To secure production capacity and supply volume, the company has ordered and imported additional packaging machinery. These machines are now in place, and efforts are underway to meet increased production demands. Regarding concerns that the program might disrupt market mechanisms, the Clean Nara representative noted, 'Consumers have a wide range of choices—some will rely on public sanitary pads, while others will continue to purchase based on brand preference and personal needs.' The company emphasized its participation is aimed at expanding accessibility and convenience, stating, 'We don’t believe all consumer demand will shift to this public supply channel.'