South Korea Goes with the Flow: Menstrual Cups are Now Legal in South Korea!
Disclaimer: The following statements, thoughts and information presented are my own and do not represent the U.S. Department of State or its Fulbright Program.
In December 2017, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety in South Korea approved the first menstrual cup to be imported and sold within the country. According to the Korea Herald, the product, “Femmycycle”, a menstrual cup created by the US-based company, Femcap, was the first of its kind to be sold within South Korea. South Korea has been a major manufacturer of menstrual cups, however, alleged controversy over the product’s newness and safety concerns were thought to contribute to the prohibition on the domestic sales of menstrual cups. Since the legalization of the sales of Femmycycle, domestic products have begun to receive approval by the Korean government. According to Korea Joongang Daily, just a few weeks ago the domestic product, “With Cup” could be bought in Lotte Mart (similar to CVS in the US) for 39,000 Won (just over $36).
The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety’s approval of these menstrual cups signifies that South Korea’s menstrual movement is flowing in the right direction. And what a better way to be a part of this movement than to be living within the community? For the next year, I will be serving as a Fulbright Scholar in South Korea and will also be doing some volunteer community outreach work for PERIOD. I am passionate about hearing the stories of menstruators across the globe and gaining cultural insight on menstruation in South Korea and other Asian countries. I will periodically (pun completely intended) be posting on The Rag! to give some insight, thoughts, and occasional ramble while I am abroad!
Keep on, Bleedin’ on!
