Court Orders Humidifier Disinfectant Manufacturer SK Chemical to Pay 3.6 Billion KRW in Litigation Costs to Aekyung

Akyeong Industrial, which sold humidifier disinfectants containing harmful substances, won a lawsuit against the manufacturer SK Chemical, demanding "reimbursement of costs incurred in related overseas lawsuits."

The Civil Division 30 of the Seoul Central District Court (Presiding Judge Jeong Chan-woo) ruled on the 7th in a damages lawsuit filed by Akyeong Industrial against SK Chemical, ordering "the defendant to pay the plaintiff approximately 3.64 billion KRW."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

The court stated, "SK Chemical has the obligation to pay and reimburse the amount equivalent to the damages burdened by Akyeong Industrial due to settlements, judgments, and decisions related to lawsuits filed in the United States," siding with Akyeong.

Previously, Akyeong Industrial had entered into a supply contract and a product liability (PL) contract with SK Chemical from 2001 to 2022 and sold 'Humidifier Mate.' The contract specified that "if an accident occurs causing damage to the life, body, or property of a third party due to defects in the raw product provided by SK Chemical, SK Chemical shall bear full responsibility and compensate the victims."

After the harmfulness of the raw materials chloromethylisothiazolinone (CMIT) and methylisothiazolinone (MIT) was revealed, bereaved families of victims who died after using the humidifier disinfectant in the United States filed damage claims against Akyeong Industrial, SK Chemical, and local distributors.

As litigation costs arose from this, Akyeong Industrial filed a lawsuit demanding SK Chemical reimburse approximately 3.6 billion KRW in litigation costs and others, arguing that SK Chemical must bear full responsibility for product defects according to the previously signed contract.