“Free Yet Exceeding Expectations in Quality”… Hwaseong City’s Public “Coreyo Sanitary Pads” Receive High Praise

Hwaseong City Completes Distribution to 83 Welfare Agencies and Administrative Welfare Centers Starting in June

Expansion to Women’s Restrooms in 68 Public Facilities by July... Realizing Universal Welfare

“Felt the City’s Thoughtful Care”… Reducing Inconvenience, Enhancing the Right to Health

Mayor Jeong Myoung-geun: “We Will Safeguard Citizens’ Right to Health and Uphold Core Social Values”

"It's so convenient to have something available right when you need it. Having sanitary pads provided in the restroom at the administrative welfare center really makes me feel that the local administration cares about us in a thoughtful way."

Koriyo sanitary pads are displayed at the Geunyang Dream workplace of Dongtan Eoulrim Welfare Center. Provided by Hwaseong City.

This is what Ms. A, a 39-year-old resident who recently visited the Saesol-dong Administrative Welfare Center in Hwaseong City, shared. The public sanitary pad, “Coreyo Sanitary Pad,” introduced by Hwaseong City to guarantee women’s basic right to health, is being widely embraced by citizens on-site and is becoming established as a welfare model in daily life.

There is generally a prejudice that products provided free of charge in public places may be of low quality, but the response from citizens who have used the “Coreyo Sanitary Pad” has been completely different. Ms. B, a resident of Hyangnam-eup, said, “The pads feel soft against the skin, and because they have an organic cotton cover, I felt comfortable wearing them for a long time.” Similarly, Ms. C from Dongtan-dong expressed her satisfaction, saying, “The absorbency is excellent, so I could go about my daily life with peace of mind, without worrying about leaks.”

The Koriyo sanitary pads are displayed at the Dongtan Eoullim Welfare Center Geunyang Dream workplace. Provided by Hwaseong City

Hwaseong City to Supply “Coreyo Sanitary Pads” Throughout Daily Life Zones, Including “Geunyang Dream” Sites, in June

According to Hwaseong Special City on June 11, the city is pushing ahead with the realization of universal welfare with no blind spots by running two parallel projects: the “Coreyo Geunyang Dream Sanitary Pad Project,” which has been implemented in Geunyang Dream spaces and administrative welfare centers since early this month, and the “Hwaseong City Public Sanitary Pad Distribution Project,” which ensures that sanitary pads are always available in women’s restrooms in public institutions.

Since the beginning of this month, the city has completed the distribution of 32,000 “Coreyo Sanitary Pads” — funded through generous donations from the Hwaseong City Welfare Foundation and local companies — to 83 key locations, including administrative welfare centers and welfare facilities in towns and neighborhoods across the city. This initiative was strongly supported by Hwaseong-based companies, such as Blueworks Co., Ltd., N2AIMedTong, and Dongtan City Hospital, which came together for the local community.

The city is not stopping there. It plans to use its own funds (100% from the city budget, totaling 87.9 million won) to install dedicated storage units and establish a continuous supply system for sanitary pads in the women’s restrooms of 68 public facilities, including four district offices, libraries, and youth centers, by July.

San Corio sanitary pads are displayed at the entrance of the Naraeul Geunyangdream workplace. Provided by Hwaseong City

Organic Cotton Cover and Individual Packaging Ensure Quality and Safety of Sanitary Pads

What citizens value most is “hygiene.” Since these pads are always available in public restrooms, there could be concerns about contamination, but each product is completely individually packaged, allowing users to use them with confidence.

Ms. B, a resident of Hyangnam-eup, said, “The pads feel soft against the skin and are comfortable to wear. Because they are made with an organic cotton cover, I could use them for a long time without discomfort or worry.” Ms. C, who lives in Dongtan 2-dong, added, “I didn’t expect much since they’re provided for free, but the absorbency is excellent, so I could go about my day without worrying about leaks.”

In particular, “Coreyo Sanitary Pads” are said to have raised the quality standard for public sanitary pads by adopting individual packaging. Since hygiene management is crucial for pads placed in public spaces, individual packaging for each product minimizes the risk of contamination during storage and use. Citizens commented, “It’s impressive that the administration not only supplies public sanitary pads but also pays attention to hygiene. We can truly feel how the administration is attentive to citizens’ health.”

The appearance of the Coriyo sanitary napkin vending machine, scheduled to be installed in July in women's restrooms at 68 public institutions. Provided by Hwaseong City

The “Geunyang Dream” Initiative Evolves from Food Assistance to the “Geunyang Dream Coreyo Sanitary Pad” Program

The reason why Hwaseong City’s public sanitary pad, “Coreyo Sanitary Pad,” is quickly taking root and receiving high satisfaction is due to the “Geunyang Dream” welfare infrastructure built by the city. Key touchpoints closely connected to citizens’ daily lives — including Geunyang Dream sites, welfare centers, neighborhood administrative welfare centers, health centers, food markets, and food banks — were already in place, enabling the program to expand rapidly citywide without needing a separate infrastructure.

Above all, the operational method of “Geunyang Dream,” allowing anyone to freely use as much as they need, has played a major role in reducing psychological barriers and increasing accessibility for citizens. Related to this, Ms. D, who visited the Bongdam-eup Geunyang Dream site, said, “With rising prices lately, the cost of buying sanitary pads has become a burden, but having Coreyo Sanitary Pads available at Geunyang Dream has been a great help.”

Hwaseong City Mayor Jeong Myoung-geun stated, “Sanitary pads are essential items directly linked to women’s right to health, and it is the role of local government to pay careful attention to even the smallest inconveniences that citizens experience in daily life. We will continue to build a comprehensive welfare infrastructure so that everyone can enjoy basic rights without discrimination, thereby realizing the value of universal welfare.”

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