Jung Jun-sung's Yeomindonglak (354) Thoughts on Hair Loss

"What's wrong with being bald?"

During the Fifth Republic, this was the lament of a certain entertainer whose broadcasting appearance was banned because his hairstyle resembled that of the president.

Hair loss, while not fatal, is something whose suffering cannot be made light of by those experiencing it.

Its impact on daily life and the concerns it brings are significant.

This is common regardless of age, gender, or social status.

Tracing back through history yields the same result.

Cases of hair loss appear as early as the 12th century BCE.

This was revealed during an autopsy of Egyptian Pharaoh Merenptah, which showed he had no hair.

Roman Caesar believed that as his hair fell out, so too did his power, and thus applied hair growth treatments.

French King Louis XIII hid his hair loss with elaborate wigs.

Records show he employed over 40 wig technicians at the time.

The history of treating hair loss, which people wish to conceal, stretches back to around 1550 BCE.

The Ebers Papyrus, an ancient Egyptian medical document, even specifies treatment methods for alopecia.

To treat hair loss, it prescribes mixing the fat of hippopotamuses, crocodiles, and female goats and applying it to the head.

It also suggests a method of singeing porcupine quills over fire and sprinkling them on the head like modern hair dye.

Considering this, humanity has been challenging the unsolved mystery of hair loss for more than 3,500 years.

So then, how many people in Korea are concerned about hair loss?

While there is no official survey, it is estimated at roughly 20% of the population.

Based on this calculation, approximately 10 million people are struggling with hair loss.

It is not only Korea. Hair loss rates are more severe in countries around the globe.

According to research by Aderans, a Japanese hair-related company, Europe is particularly affected.

According to data surveying hair loss rates in major cities across 21 countries worldwide, the order is Prague, Czech Republic (42.8%), Madrid, Spain (42.6%), Frankfurt, Germany (41.2%), and so on.

The lowest rates were Shanghai, China (19.0%), followed by Seoul, Korea (22.4%).

On the other hand, the population actively seeking treatment is not very large.

While the annual growth rate is steep, it remains negligible compared to the total number of people concerned about hair loss.

According to the National Health Insurance Service, patients receiving treatment for alopecia increased from 103,000 in 2001 to 233,000 in 2020, more than doubling.

After that, there was a sharp increase, exceeding 800,000 in 2021 and surpassing 1.31 million in 2025.

Accordingly, the domestic hair loss-related market has also continued to grow.

As of 2025, it is estimated to be worth 4 trillion won annually.

There are several theories about the causes of hair loss.

Among them, the consensus is that genetic factors and environmental stress are the primary culprits.

Additionally, losing 50 to 70 hairs per day is considered normal, while exceeding 100 is regarded as hair loss.

Of course, it is common for hair volume to decrease with age.

It is often considered a natural occurrence, attributed to poor blood circulation causing changes in the hair growth cycle.

News reports that efforts are underway to apply "treatment coverage under national health insurance" for young people struggling with hair loss.

The initial target is young adults aged 20 to 34.

This has led to divided social discourse.

There is a collision between criticism of "hair populism aimed at appealing to youth sentiment" and claims of "solving survival issues for the younger generation."

Fierce debate also surrounds the medical necessity and priority of insurance coverage, which form the foundation of health insurance.

Additionally, patients suffering without coverage for expensive anti-cancer drugs and treatments for rare diseases are also being brought into the discussion.

Regarding health insurance coverage for hair loss treatment, considering that there are many areas where health insurance funds should be invested... it is questionable.