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| Civic group members call for a boycott against Oxy Reckitt Benckiser Korea products during a rally in front of the company's building on Yeouido, Seoul, Monday. / Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk |
By Kim Bo-eun
Over 400 victims of toxic humidifier disinfectants have filed a suit against the government and the manufacturers and retailers behind the deadly products, demanding some 10 billion won in compensation.
Lawyers for a Democratic Society, a liberal legal group, said Monday that it submitted a complaint to the Seoul Central District Court on behalf of 436 victims and their relatives.
The plaintiffs consist of victims recognized by the government, others who have applied to the Korea Environmental Industry and Technology Institute for recognition as victims and family members.
Among them are 235 victims who have suffered damage to their lungs and other organs, and family members of 51 deceased victims. Not all of the victims and their families are taking part in the suit, as more than 140 people died from the toxic products.
They have filed the suit against the government and 22 companies including Oxy Reckitt Benckiser Korea and Butterfly Effect, as well as retailers including Lotte Shopping and Home plus.
The plaintiffs are demanding 50 million won each for the deceased and 30 million won for those who continue to suffer health problems such as lung damage. These damages will cover medical expenses as well as the emotional distress the victims and their families have endured. The victims' family members are seeking 10 million won in compensation for emotional distress.
"Without any grounds, the manufacturers and sellers of the humidifier disinfectants indicated on the labels of their products that the ingredients were safe," a member of the lawyers' group said.
"The government, which failed to properly conduct safety tests and approve the products through tightly enforced safety regulations, must also take responsibility."
The humidifier disinfectants were sold from the late 1990s until 2011, when the scandal broke out, with people claiming the products caused lung damage and death.
The prosecution is currently investigating former and sitting executives of Oxy Reckitt Benckiser, which allegedly caused the majority of deaths.
Meanwhile, civic groups held a rally in front of the U.K.-based company's office on Yeouido, Seoul, calling for an extension of the boycott against its products.
Those groups started the boycott last month, which was joined by major retailers such as discount chains, convenience stores, online malls and department stores, hurting its sales.
Civic groups and victims have also been calling for the government to take responsibility for the scandal, criticizing it for failing to set up proper rules about safety tests and take adequate action for the victims when the scandal first broke out.
The prosecution also summoned the head of Yongma Industry, the manufacturer of disinfectant products for Lotte Mart and Home plus which contained the toxic component polyhexamethylene (PHMG). The company head, surnamed Kim, is the first to be questioned over the toxic products.
