12th Anniversary of the Humidifier Disinfectant Disaster... Victims in Tears Over Slow Relief Process

Among 7,854 Claimants, 1,821 Deaths Reported
"Lung Cancer Damage Must Be Determined Through Expedited Review"

As the humidifier disinfectant disaster marks its 12th year since becoming public knowledge, victims are urging the government to accelerate the compensation process. With over 30% of applicants still awaiting review and discussions underway to recognize lung cancer as a new compensable disease, there are concerns that slow compensation could further harm the victims.

On the afternoon of the 8th, participants hold a banner with slogans at the '12th Anniversary Responsibility Demand Bicycle Campaign for the Humidifier Disinfectant Disaster' organized by the Citizens' Center for Environmental Health in front of the LG Gwanghwamun Building in Jongno-gu, Seoul. [Image source=Yonhap News]

The civic group Environment and Health Citizens' Center announced on the 31st that it will conduct simultaneous campaigns nationwide in Incheon, Ulsan, and Pohang, Gyeongbuk, together with humidifier disinfectant victims. The humidifier disinfectant disaster was first revealed to the public on August 31, 2011. Through the campaign, they demand that courts find the companies that sold the humidifier disinfectants guilty and that the Ministry of Environment recognize lung cancer as a compensable disease.

This campaign was organized ahead of the Ministry of Environment’s scheduled discussion on compensation for lung cancer victims through the Compensation Committee on the 5th of next month. Victims are cautiously welcoming the possibility of compensation for lung cancer. This is because many victims have yet to be recognized for various diseases beyond the designated compensable illnesses such as lung disease, asthma, toxic hepatitis, and pediatric interstitial lung disease. According to the Ministry of Environment, as of the 31st of last month, 7,854 people have applied for compensation related to humidifier disinfectant damage, of whom 5,041 have been recognized as victims. The remaining 2,813 are either newly applying or undergoing reassessment. This means about 36% of applicants have not yet been acknowledged as victims.

Meanwhile, concerns are rising that even if lung cancer is recognized as a compensable disease, the review process will be slow. Victim assessments are conducted under the "Special Act on Relief for Victims of Humidifier Disinfectants" through expedited and individual reviews. If applicants meet specific criteria?such as having no asthma diagnosis two months before exposure or taking asthma medication after exposure?they can be quickly recognized as victims through expedited review. The problem arises when cases move to individual review. Physicians at designated hospitals conduct various epidemiological investigations to prove causality, which can take over a year in some cases. Among the 7,854 applicants, 1,821 have already passed away. Choi Yeyong, director of the Environment and Health Citizens' Center, said, "There are talks that lung cancer recognition will be limited to individual review only, but this will mock the victims. Since a long time has passed since the humidifier disinfectant disaster occurred, lung cancer damage should be judged through expedited review as well."

Victims also urge swift compensation and support for diseases already recognized. Chae Kyungseon, co-representative of the 8·31 Social Value Solidarity, a group of humidifier disinfectant victims, said, "It took me over 10 years to be diagnosed with lung disease, and it was a painful period. I ask the government to actively identify victims and support their recovery."

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