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Korea legislative to hold separate probe on toxic humidifier sanitizers

Collected: 2016.06.29

Distributed: 2016.06.30

Source: Go Direct

South Korean lawmakers have agreed to form an ad hoc committee to investigate allegations that toxic humidifier sanitizers manufactured and sold by Reckitt Benckiser Korea (RB Korea) and other Korean big retailers have claimed scores of lives in the country.

Rep. Kim Do-eup, deputy floor leader of the Saenuri Party, said in a statement on Monday that the lawmakers agreed to set up an extraordinary committee on the toxic humidifier sanitizer case that has lately grabbed the public’s attention. The country has been embroiled in deadly humidifier disinfectant scandal that is feared to be responsible for lung ailment for over 1,500 people and about 250 deaths for over 20 years, and the Korean health authority in 2011 publicly announced a link between fatal chemicals used in a humidifier disinfectant and deaths.

Local prosecutors’ investigation picked up speed early this year after the country’s president ordered a government-wide investigation into the case, and prosecutors have arrested or indicted several people in responsible for developing and marketing the deadly products, including ex-RB Korea CEO Shin Hyun-woo, former Lotte Mart CEO Noh Byung-yong and a number of researchers and university professors.

In a meeting held on Monday, deputy floor leaders of the ruling and opposition parties also agreed to hold a parliamentary hearing soon after the ongoing probe by prosecutors into the cases is completed.

Rep. Park Wan-ju, deputy floor leader of the Minjoo Party, said the committee will hold a hearing with a focus on damage compensation when it is formed during the parliamentary plenary session due on July 6.

By Shin Heon-chul

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