Police Investigate Whistleblower in Humidifier Disinfectant Disaster Evidence Forgery Case

Victim Group Law Firm Kim & Chang Files Complaints Against SK Chemicals, Oxy, and Others

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Oh Gyumin] The police have launched a full-scale investigation into the case in which victim groups related to the ‘Humidifier Disinfectant Disaster’ filed complaints against related companies and current and former ministers.

On the 22nd, the Violent Crime Investigation Unit of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency summoned Song Unhak, the representative of the Public Interest Surveillance Civil Rights Council, and Yoon Youngdae, co-representative of the Speculative Capital Surveillance Center, as complainants for questioning at 2 p.m.

Civil organizations expressed a welcoming stance toward the police investigation. Before the investigation, Representative Song held a press conference and said, “This police investigation is close to a reinvestigation, as the previous investigation was closed with no charges,” adding, “During the questioning, we will see whether the police have a thorough intention to investigate.”

Kim Miran, representative of the bereaved families and victims’ group of the humidifier disinfectant-related interstitial lung disease, stated, “The main perpetrators who caused the disaster without any shame must be strictly, promptly, and thoroughly reinvestigated from the beginning.”

At the press conference, they criticized companies related to the humidifier disinfectant disaster. Yoon Youngdae, co-representative of the Speculative Capital Surveillance Center, claimed, “Three presidents have changed in 10 years, but there has been no interest,” and “SK Chemical, Oxy, and Aekyung have committed murder by indirect intent but have not taken any responsibility.”

Forty-one organizations related to the humidifier disinfectant disaster filed a complaint with the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office in June against Kim & Chang law firm, which represented Oxy Reckitt Benckiser (Oxy), stating, “They attended the inhalation toxicity experiment result briefing by Professor Cho Myunghang of Seoul National University, knew the results, yet participated in Oxy’s concealment and manipulation, conspiring to seriously infringe on the people’s right to life.” Subsequently, in August, the groups filed additional complaints against related companies such as SK Chemical for manufacturing and distributing humidifier disinfectants without properly labeling harmful substances, and accused institutions like the Ministry of Environment of abetting this.

Currently, the number of deaths among humidifier disinfectant victims is estimated at around 14,000. According to statistics from the Korea Environmental Industry & Technology Institute, as of the 31st of last month, there are 7,782 applicants for relief, 1,789 deceased victims, and 5,993 surviving patients undergoing treatment.

Among them, only 4,408 have been recognized as eligible victims for relief, and 3,374 victims are still under review (714 deceased victims and 2,660 surviving patients), according to the organizers.

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