Seoul: The industry ministry announced Thursday that mediation efforts between Oxy Reckitt Benckiser and victims of the toxic humidifier disinfectant scandal have officially ended without a settlement. This development comes after a prolonged appeal case where the two parties failed to reach an agreement.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the decision was revealed during a meeting of the National Contact Point (NCP) for Responsible Business Conduct. This government organization, under the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources, is tasked with implementing OECD guidelines for multinational enterprises. Ministry officials noted that the NCP made three separate attempts to facilitate a settlement, following demands from two individual consumers in October last year for Oxy to offer additional relief measures for victims whose injuries were not covered under the official damage grading system.
The humidifier disinfectant scandal is considered one of South Korea's most severe consumer goods disasters. Oxy, a Korean subsidiary of the UK-based Reckitt Benckiser, was among the companies implicated in selling products that resulted in deaths and illnesses among consumers. The issue came to light in 2011 when consumers began reporting health issues linked to humidifier disinfectants, which were commonly used during dry winter months. A subsequent government investigation confirmed the association between the products and the reported health problems.
By 2023, a total of 5,691 individuals were recognized as eligible for government-backed compensation related to the toxic disinfectants, including 1,262 deceased victims. Oxy has maintained that it cannot provide further compensation, citing that settlements have been completed for recognized victims and contributions made to a government relief fund. However, the NCP has urged Oxy to continue enhancing its policies to align with OECD consumer health and safety standards and to engage in the problem-solving process overseen by the environment ministry.
The NCP's statement also advised Oxy to improve communication with victims whose conditions are not classified within the current grading system, suggesting that the company make meaningful efforts to offer remedies. It further recommended that Oxy liaise with its headquarters in Britain to implement these measures and submit a progress report within a year. Additionally, the NCP criticized Oxy's insufficient efforts in verifying product safety and its false safety claims.
The NCP operates in 52 countries, with the Korean branch established under the industry ministry in 2001.