"Save the Victims" Humidifier Disinfectant Disaster Victims Express Anger Toward Mediation Committee and Responsible Companies

Hunger strike halted after 13 days due to health issues... Protest camp to continue

On the 7th, victims of the humidifier disinfectant disaster sat down in protest when their entry to the Kyobo Life Insurance Building in Gwanghwamun, Seoul was blocked.
Photo by Gong Byung-sun mydillon@

[Asia Economy Reporter Gong Byung-sun] “Now that they are gone, when will they come back?”

A father whose daughter was bedridden due to humidifier disinfectants collapsed in front of the Adjustment Committee. Victims of the humidifier disinfectant disaster, dressed in black and holding memorial photos and urns, circled around the SK headquarters building and the Kyobo Life Insurance building in Gwanghwamun, Seoul, where the Adjustment Committee is located. They tried to enter the Kyobo Life Insurance building to lower their voices, but were blocked at the door. The victims expressed their frustration, saying, “The Adjustment Committee is ignoring the victims’ opinions.”

On the 7th, Big Teams, a coalition of humidifier disinfectant disaster victims, held a press conference condemning the perpetrating companies and the Adjustment Committee in front of the SK headquarters back gate. They wore mourning clothes and held flags with slogans such as “My body is the evidence” during the press conference, rally, and protest.

Jo Soon-mi, Chairperson of Big Teams, said, “What has the state taken responsibility for the victims of the humidifier disinfectant disaster, which has been recognized as a social disaster, and what have the perpetrating companies apologized for? The Adjustment Committee was formed with difficulty, but it is unclear whose side they are on.”

On the 7th, victims of the humidifier disinfectant disaster held a press conference condemning the Adjustment Committee and the perpetrating companies in front of the back gate of the SK headquarters building.
Photo by Gong Byung-sun mydillon@

She also expressed the intention to continue the sit-in protest. Chairperson Jo said, “The victims of the humidifier disinfectant disaster will firmly unite with other victims of such disasters and calamities,” adding, “Although our bodies are in pain, we will work hard to ensure that such a disaster never happens again in Korea.”

Before the press conference, they also held rallies and protests while touring around the SK headquarters building and the Kyobo Life Insurance building in Gwanghwamun. About six people participated in the rally and protest that day. Originally, more people were expected to attend, but according to Big Teams, many went to a funeral as one of the humidifier disinfectant victims passed away the day before.

During the protest, one victim tried to enter the Kyobo Life Insurance building but was blocked and began to sit down and cry out loud. He said, “Is the Republic of Korea really a democratic country? Please save the victims of the humidifier disinfectant disaster.” However, as they were continuously stopped, they headed back to the SK headquarters back gate where Big Teams’ camp is located.

On the 7th, victims of the humidifier disinfectant disaster held a rally and march in front of the SK headquarters building and the Kyobo Life Insurance building in Gwanghwamun, Seoul, holding wooden plaques and portrait photos.
Photo by Gong Byung-seon mydillon@

The hunger strike, which had been ongoing since the 26th of last month, was decided to be stopped after 13 days. Big Teams stated that the victims’ physical conditions were not good enough to continue the hunger strike and that many victims were elderly and could not continue fasting. The day before, Seo Young-chul, the representative of Big Teams who was fasting with Chairperson Jo, was taken to the emergency room due to health issues such as low blood sugar.

The humidifier disinfectant disaster surfaced in 2011 when the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention conducted an epidemiological investigation and suspected humidifier disinfectants as a risk factor for unexplained lung damage. According to the Special Investigation Commission on Social Disasters, there are currently 7,666 reported victims, but the actual number of victims is estimated to be between 3.5 million and 4 million.

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