Humidifier Disinfectant Disaster Adjustment Committee Likely Extended... Key Issue is Persuading Oxy and Aekyung

Meeting on the 29th to Decide Extension
Victims' Side: "Government Should Play a Bigger Role in the Mediation Committee"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Gong Byung-sun] Ahead of the expiration of the activity period of the Adjustment Committee (Adjustment Committee) for relief from the humidifier disinfectant disaster, some companies and victim groups have agreed to extend it for the time being. However, Oxy Reckitt Benckiser (Oxy) and Aekyung Industrial (Aekyung) have still not participated in the discussions, and efforts to persuade them are expected to be intensified.

On the 27th, the Adjustment Committee, companies, and victim groups held a corporate meeting at the Adjustment Committee office located in the Kyobo Building in Gwanghwamun, Seoul, to discuss whether to extend the adjustment period. The companies participating in this meeting were reported to be seven companies excluding Oxy and Aekyung (SK Chemicals, SK Innovation, LG Household & Health Care, GS Retail, Lotte Shopping, E-Mart, Homeplus). They agreed to extend the Adjustment Committee's activity period, which was until the end of this month.

The Adjustment Committee is expected to carry out persuasion efforts to have Oxy and Aekyung, who did not participate in the discussions, also attend. An Adjustment Committee official said, "The seven companies requested the Adjustment Committee to persuade Oxy and Aekyung to participate," adding, "It seems that Oxy and Aekyung will take some time to consider." The Adjustment Committee plans to hold a meeting on the 29th to additionally hear the opinions of the two companies and decide whether to extend the period.

Oxy and Aekyung maintain the position that the final adjustment plan's burden ratio is too large. According to the final adjustment plan, the two companies must pay about 60% of the total adjustment amount. In particular, Oxy is in a situation where it must bear 500 billion KRW. The adjustment amount to be paid by the nine companies ranges from a minimum of 779.5 billion KRW to a maximum of 924 billion KRW.

Other companies expressed the opinion that they cannot increase their burden ratio any further. On the 11th, the Adjustment Committee explained at a press conference that it had inquired about the possibility of increasing the burden ratio for SK Chemicals and SK Innovation but was told that they could not bear it. SK Chemicals and others bear responsibility for providing raw materials in the humidifier disinfectant disaster.

Victims urged the government to play a greater role in the Adjustment Committee. Since the current Adjustment Committee is a private organization, it has limitations in enforcing participation from companies like Oxy and Aekyung that neglect discussions. A representative of Big Teams (a coalition of humidifier disinfectant disaster victim groups) expressed concern, saying, "If the government does not show a clear role in the adjustment, the same problem could be repeated." Meanwhile, on the afternoon of the 28th, victims plan to hold a special proposal and press conference for the resolution of the humidifier disinfectant disaster addressed to President-elect Yoon Seok-yeol.

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