Renewal of 'Asbestos Damage Recognition Validity Period' Possible Upon Occurrence of Serious Aftereffects

Resolution of the Cabinet Meeting on the Amendment of the Asbestos Damage Relief Act

(Photo) [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Joo Sang-don] From now on, if the aftereffects of asbestos-related diseases are severe, it will be possible to renew the validity period of asbestos damage recognition, thereby expanding the scope of support for asbestos damage relief.

The Ministry of Environment announced that the amended "Asbestos Damage Relief Act," which includes these details, was approved at the Cabinet meeting on the 29th and will be enforced starting July 6.

First, the amended law expands the conditions for renewing the validity period of asbestos damage recognition. Under the existing law, the renewal condition was limited to "cases where the asbestos disease is unlikely to be cured before the expiration of the validity period," but the amended law allows extension also in cases where "aftereffects are severe."

Severe aftereffects include ▲malignant mesothelioma ▲distant metastasis of lung cancer ▲cancerous pleurisy ▲cancerous lymphangitis ▲severe pulmonary dysfunction ▲aftereffects with arterial blood oxygen pressure of 65 millimeters of mercury (mmHg) or less.

Therefore, even if the asbestos disease has been cured but severe aftereffects remain, submitting documents such as a medical certificate or medical records issued by a medical institution will allow the recipient to receive relief benefits for the next five years after review by the Asbestos Damage Judgment Committee.

Additionally, the standard date for payment of medical care benefits (costs incurred for treatment of asbestos diseases) has been moved forward from "the date of application for asbestos damage recognition" to "the date of diagnosis of the asbestos disease," thereby extending the payment period for medical care benefits.

This amendment also applies to those recognized as asbestos damage victims who have received medical care benefits even once before the enforcement date of the amended law (July 6).

Furthermore, the application period for special bereavement condolence money and special funeral expenses has been extended from "5 years" to "15 years" from the date of the victim's death to prevent cases where relief or support is not received due to failure to apply within the deadline.

Park Yong-gyu, Director of the Environmental Health Bureau at the Ministry of Environment, said, "With the enforcement of this amended law, we can expand relief support for asbestos victims," and added, "We will continue to do our best to operate the asbestos damage relief system to reduce the suffering of citizens harmed by asbestos."

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