Wonder Girls member Yubin has expressed heartfelt gratitude after a national petition regarding insurance coverage for a breast cancer brain metastasis treatment surpassed 50,000 signatures.
On September 12, Yubin shared, “I sincerely thank everyone who joined this petition and gave us your precious support. Your encouragement has given great strength to my family and hope to many patients battling the same fight.”
She added, “Your warm hearts will remain with me for a long time. This kindness has been a great comfort, and I will never forget it.”
The petition calls for the inclusion of Tukysa (Tucatinib) in South Korea’s national health insurance coverage for patients with breast cancer that has metastasized to the brain. It received 50,075 signatures, surpassing the required threshold for referral to the National Assembly’s relevant standing committee within 30 days.
Yubin first urged public support on September 1, revealing that her eldest sister was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2020 and, tragically, the disease had spread to her brain by 2024.
“We finally found an effective drug, but the financial burden makes proper treatment nearly impossible,” she wrote at the time. “This is not just about my family—it’s about whether all breast cancer patients will have access to better treatment options.”
While Tucatinib was approved by South Korea’s Ministry of Food and Drug Safety in December 2023, its domestic sales have been indefinitely delayed, forcing patients to rely on costly individual imports.
A two-month supply costs about 30 million KRW ($22,000), and since the drug must be combined with other cancer treatments some of which lose their prior insurance coverage when used in combination the total annual cost can soar to 200 million KRW ($150,000).
This enormous financial strain has left many patients unable to pursue treatment, making the petition’s progress a critical milestone.
Yubin debuted in 2007 as a member of the iconic girl group Wonder Girls, later establishing her own agency, rrr Entertainment, in 2020. Now, beyond her music career, she has taken on the role of advocate, using her platform to bring attention to the struggles faced by cancer patients and their families.
Sources: Naver
You must be logged in to post a comment.