Sacheomwi: "Oxy and Kim & Chang Downplayed and Concealed the Humidifier Disinfectant Disaster"

Press Conference on Investigation Results
"Confirmation of Oxy Reckitt Benckiser Disaster Avoidance and Delay in Ground Clarification"

Kim & Chang, Despite Recognizing Harmfulness,
Claimed No Toxicity Manifested
Raised Need for Additional Investigation

On the morning of the 9th, at the Social Disaster Special Investigation Committee's main conference room in Jung-gu, Seoul, Kim Yoo-jung, Head of the Humidifier Disinfectant Investigation Division 1 (right), is answering questions at the press conference announcing the investigation results on the allegations of downplaying and concealing the humidifier disinfectant disaster by Oxy RB and Kim & Chang.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Dong-hoon] It has been alleged that the humidifier disinfectant seller, together with the largest law firm in Korea, attempted to downplay or even conceal responsibility for the humidifier disinfectant disaster.

The Special Investigation Committee on Social Disasters (SICSD) held a press conference on the 9th at Post Tower in Jung-gu, Seoul, stating, "We have confirmed that Oxy Reckitt Benckiser (Reckitt Benckiser Korea) evaded responsibility for the 2011 humidifier disinfectant disaster and delayed fact-finding." They added, "Despite confirming toxicity and lung damage results in various inhalation toxicity tests, the company and Kim & Chang law firm claimed no toxicity appeared based on the final Seoul National University report, which omitted interstitial pneumonia and reproductive toxicity results." Accordingly, the SICSD urged further investigation into whether the company misled the court and victims, and whether there were any issues with the performance of Kim & Chang lawyers' duties.

According to the SICSD, Oxy Reckitt Benckiser (hereafter Oxy), the Korean branch of the UK household goods company Reckitt Benckiser (RB), formed a humidifier disinfectant response team (known as the 'core team') led by an RB headquarters employee in 2011 when the humidifier disinfectant issue arose, to systematically respond to the disaster. Oxy conducted inhalation toxicity tests at domestic and international laboratories with approval from RB headquarters officials. All inhalation toxicity test results commissioned by Oxy confirmed the link between humidifier disinfectant toxicity and lung damage. However, the SICSD judged that Oxy withheld approval of reports or halted ongoing inhalation toxicity tests.

During this process, Kim & Chang provided external legal counsel. They developed response strategies and offered advice on the experimental results, as well as reviewed safety data on the raw materials of the humidifier disinfectant. The committee confirmed that Kim & Chang lawyers attended inhalation toxicity test result meetings conducted by Seoul National University, KCL, the US WIL Institute, and India's IIBAT, and reviewed experimental reports multiple times before the final reports were issued. Despite being aware of the harmfulness of the humidifier disinfectant, Kim & Chang lawyers argued in civil and criminal trials that no toxicity appeared in Oxy products. In 2016, prosecutors also examined Kim & Chang's role in evidence destruction, concealment, and forgery but stated that no charges leading to criminal punishment were found.

Choi Ye-yong, Chair of the Subcommittee for Fact-Finding of the Humidifier Disinfectant Incident, stated, "The committee's investigation confirmed that the perpetrating company was busy ignoring and hiding the truth," and added, "(Due to Oxy's response) confusion arose in identifying the cause of the humidifier disinfectant disaster, and compensation and relief for victims were delayed."

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