SACHAMWI to Hold Hearing on 'Delay in Relief for Humidifier Disinfectant Victims'

On the morning of the 2nd, Hwang Jeon-won, the subcommittee chair supporting the Special Investigation Commission on Social Disasters, is briefing on the basic plan for the humidifier disinfectant disaster hearing and delays in victim relief at the Special Investigation Commission on Social Disasters in Jung-gu, Seoul. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Dong-hoon] The Special Investigation Commission on Social Disasters (Sacheomwi) announced on the 2nd that it will hold a hearing related to the humidifier disinfectant disaster to address issues such as delays in victim relief.

On the same day, Sacheomwi held a press briefing at Post Tower in Jung-gu, Seoul, revealing the basic plan for the hearing targeting the Ministry of Environment and the Korea Environmental Industry & Technology Institute. According to Sacheomwi, after the revision of the Act on Relief for Victims of Humidifier Disinfectant Damage in September last year, the Ministry of Environment selected 10 adjudication agencies and planned to complete the adjudications by the end of this year. However, the Ministry postponed the adjudication completion deadline twice and changed the plan to finish by the end of next year.

Among the 6,037 individuals subject to individual review for relief from humidifier disinfectant damage, only three cases were recognized as victims, as decided by the Ministry of Environment’s Relief Committee on the 26th of last month. Although the number of applicants increased by 332 from 7,115 at the end of last year to 7,447 on the 14th of last month, the number of recognized victims remained the same at 4,114. Sacheomwi attributes this result to the Relief Committee holding only one meeting in five months for damage adjudication.

Sacheomwi stated, "We will ensure that essential witnesses such as the Minister of Environment and the President of the Korea Environmental Industry & Technology Institute attend this hearing, and will apply a zero-tolerance policy for unjustified absences." If cooperation in submitting materials is insufficient, hearings will be held as needed.

Hwang Jeon-won, Chair of the Sacheomwi Support Subcommittee, said, "Our sole goal is to provide relief to victims as quickly and broadly as possible so that many can be compensated within the deadline. We will do everything possible, including holding hearings, to achieve this."

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