264 Additional Victims Recognized for Humidifier Disinfectant Damage... Total 3,545 Victims

On the 31st, at Gwanghwamun Square in Jongno-gu, Seoul, the Citizens' Center for Environmental Health and families affected by the humidifier disinfectant disaster held a press conference marking the 9th anniversary of the humidifier disinfectant tragedy. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Song Seung-yoon] The government has recognized an additional 300 victims of humidifier disinfectant damage.

On the afternoon of the 28th, the Ministry of Environment held the "20th Humidifier Disinfectant Damage Relief Committee" meeting at a conference room near Seoul Station to review and approve additional relief measures for humidifier disinfectant victims. Excluding duplicates, the total number of beneficiaries eligible for relief payments now stands at 3,545.

The committee plans to conduct intensive and expedited reviews until the end of the year, so the number of support recipients is expected to increase further.

Following the increase of the special bereaved family condolence payment from 40 million won to 100 million won, the committee also finalized the recipients and amounts for additional payments (an average of 60 million won). Approximately 39.8 billion won will be additionally paid to 658 victims.

The committee also established operational rules to make the internal decision-making process more transparent, allowing applicants to directly participate and present their opinions from the initial medical judgment by the attending physician to the meeting of the Re-examination Expert Committee.

Additionally, the committee approved the method for assessing damage grades, which serve as the basis for the payment of nursing living allowances. Damage grades will be determined through pulmonary function tests (including clinical progress in cases of asthma), and the "Korean Medical Association Disability Evaluation Criteria" (2016) will be applied to reflect various health damages (including aftereffects), allowing for upward adjustment of grades.