A government-led compensation system for victims of the humidifier disinfectant tragedy is set to begin.
The Office for Government Policy Coordination announced on October 7 that this initiative is a result of amendments to the 'Special Act on Relief and Support for Victims of Humidifier Disinfectant.'
Referred to as the 'worst environmental disaster in history,' the humidifier disinfectant incident involved individuals who suffered severe health issues or died after using specific humidifier disinfectant products. The issue became apparent in 2011 when cases of acute respiratory failure began to emerge. Last year, 15 years after the incidents, the government officially classified the events as a 'social disaster.'
Under the new law, victims of the humidifier disinfectant can receive compensation without the need for separate lawsuits, through a review by a compensation committee.
Compensation will be categorized into medical expenses, nursing costs, disability and survivor compensation, funeral expenses, emotional distress, and natural interest. Victims can choose to receive medical expenses as a lump sum or in installments.
Victims can apply online with the necessary documents through the comprehensive support portal for humidifier disinfectant victims. Offline applications are also available at two locations: the Sejong Humidifier Disinfectant Compensation Review Committee Support Team and the Seoul Korea Environmental Industry Technology Institute's compensation application reception desk.
The head of the humidifier disinfectant compensation review committee support team stated, 'We will consider the circumstances of the victims as much as possible during the review process and will do our best to ensure that victims and their families receive fair and complete compensation.'
* This article has been translated by AI.
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