On the morning of the 20th, officials from the’Humidifier Disinfectant Company Liability Committee and Compensation Promotion Committee’ gathered by victims of the humidifier disinfectant disaster are holding a press conference in front of the E-Mart Shinchon branch in Mapo-gu, Seoul, urging the humidifier disinfectant manufacturers to apologize and to urge proper pears and compensation. Reporter Garam Lee
“Citizens, I earnestly appeal to you. Please don’t forget the humidifier disinfectant disaster.”
At 11:40 am on the 20th, the voices of the victims of humidifier disinfectants echoed in the area of Sinchon-ro, which crosses between Shinchon Station and Hongik University Station in Mapo-gu, Seoul. It was a walking march to protest a company that manufactured and sold humidifier disinfectants. They went out to the streets and appealed to the citizens, saying, “The humidifier disinfectant is not a resolved disaster, but an ongoing disaster,” and “please help us change the judgment of the judiciary that the perpetrators were not guilty.”
“To the streets because the law cannot protect us”
Officials of the’Humidifier Disinfectant Corporate Responsibilities and Compensation Promotion Committee’, where victims of humidifier disinfectant disasters gathered are marching on foot in the area of Sinchon-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul on the 20th. Reporter Garam Lee
The’Humidifier Disinfectant Company Responsibilities and Compensation Promotion Committee’ gathered by the victims of the humidifier disinfectant tragedy held a press conference to condemn the humidifier disinfectant manufacturing and sales company in front of E-Mart’s Sinchon branch located in Mapo-gu, Seoul and Aekyung headquarters. Jang Dong-yeop, senior secretary of the participation regiment in charge of conducting the press conference, said, “On the 12th of last month, the court found it absurdly innocent against the manufacturers and sellers of humidifier disinfectants such as SK, Aekyung, and E-Mart.” “Because the law did not protect us, I stood on the street once again to show my rights.”
At the press conference that day, eight people, including the victims, their families, and the survivors of the victims who lost their lives, attended and urged manufacturers and sellers of humidifier disinfectants to apologize and make reasonable compensation. Kim Tae-jong (66), a survivor of the victim, said, “My wife who used E-Mart’s PB product’Eplus humidifier disinfectant’ went to heaven in August of last year due to severe lung disease.” “The number of victims was 7,000 and the Ministry of Environment officially Even though only 998 deaths were admitted, the perpetrators did not acknowledge responsibility and did not apologize or compensate.”
After the first press conference in front of E-Mart’s Sinchon branch at 11:30 am, they departed from here and walked about 1 km for 30 minutes to the Aekyung Tower near Hongik University Station. Walking around Sinchon with a placard and a picket, he shouted out slogans such as “SK is guilty,” “E-Mart is a murder company,” and “Aekyung is responsible.” Five to six police officers watched the press conference and the walking process in order to comply with the quarantine regulations and prepare for an accident.
“Don’t believe the phrase’harmless to the human body’”
Officials of the’Humidifier Disinfectant Company Responsibilities and Compensation Promotion Committee’ gathered by victims of the humidifier disinfectant disaster are holding a press conference on the 20th in front of the Aekyung Tower in Mapo-gu, Seoul to apologize for the humidifier disinfectant manufacturers and to urge proper pears and compensation. Reporter Garam Lee
At the second press conference held in front of Aekyung Tower, Cho Soon-mi, 52, who wore a portable oxygen generator for severe asthma, grabbed the microphone. “Most of the victims have respiratory problems, so there are many people who cannot come even if they want to participate in the walking march,” he said. “Many people still do not know how serious and terrible the humidifier disinfectant is.” He then appealed, “Please don’t forget the lesson that the phrase’harmless to the human body’ used in products made by large companies may someday take the lives of me and my family.”
An official from the Bae·Compensation Promotion Committee said, “There has been no factual investigation, damage relief, and recurrence prevention measures that have been requested by the victims for the past 10 years.” “We will devote all our efforts to activities that call for punishment.” Victims are planning to hold a press conference like this every weekend in front of a humidifier disinfectant manufacturer and seller.
Oxy is guilty, SK Chemicals is innocent? Controversy
In 2018, the Supreme Court convicted manufacturers such as Oxyrekit Benckiser (Oxy), who had been tried on charges of business malpractice, etc. in relation to the humidifier disinfectant case, and officials at large supermarkets such as Homeplus and Lotte Mart. However, on the 12th of last month, officials from SK Chemicals, E-Mart, and Aekyung Industries, who had been accused of the same, were controversial as they were sentenced innocent at the first trial.
At the time, the judiciary said that unlike oxy, which used polyhexamethyleneguanine (PHMG), which had already been confirmed to be harmful, as a humidifier disinfectant raw material, the raw materials used by SK Chemicals and Aekyung Industrial have not yet proved harmful, causing actual lung disease and asthma. I thought it was difficult to see. The judge explained, “I don’t know what kind of evaluation will be made historically if the results of additional research are released, but based on the evidence available to date, I had to judge within the scope of the fundamental principles of criminal justice.” The victims of the humidifier disinfectant rebelled fiercely, saying, “All that happened in my body is evidence.” The prosecution immediately appealed.
Reporter Garam Lee [email protected]