Seven academic societies in the fields of environment and public health, along with National Assembly Members Woo Won-shik, Park Ji-hye, and Seo Wang-jin, and the National Assembly Research Service (NARS), headed by Chief Lee Kwan-hu, held a joint symposium titled “The Significance and Challenges of Transitioning to a State Compensation System for the Humidifier Disinfectant Disaster” on June 18 in the main conference room of the NARS.

The symposium was organized to examine the significance and limitations of the Special Act on Remedy for Damage Caused by Humidifier Disinfectants, which was passed by the National Assembly on March 12, and to discuss institutional reforms needed to ensure meaningful compensation for victims and strengthen state accountability.

The Special Act shifts responsibility for remedying damage caused by humidifier disinfectants to a joint-liability framework involving both the State and the businesses concerned. It also expands state responsibility by establishing the Committee for Deliberation on Compensation for Damage Caused by Humidifier Disinfectants under the Prime Minister.

Although the legislation has been regarded as an important institutional transition in that the State will assume a more active role and greater responsibility, academic societies in the environmental and health fields pointed out additional measures required to ensure full compensation for victims. These include establishing reasonable application periods for relief and compensation, identifying potential victims and expanding efforts to conduct long-term monitoring, creating a system for ongoing communication, enhancing the expertise of the Compensation Deliberation Committee, and broadening the legal and social responsibilities of businesses.

With the Special Act scheduled to take effect, the symposium focused on matters that should be addressed in the design of future subordinate legislation and systems. Cho Hyun-soo, Director General of the Environmental Health Bureau at the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment, explained the significance of the Special Act and the government’s plans for its implementation. Dr. Jinyoung Park analyzed the role of law and science in addressing chemical disasters.

Professor Park Tae Hyun of Kangwon National University School of Law presented on key issues concerning subordinate legislation and institutional design, while Professor Dong-Uk Park of Korea National Open University presented on the direction for establishing a damages compensation framework and criteria for determining individual compensation amounts.

The panel discussion brought together experts in the fields of the environment, public health, and law, as well as representatives from NARS, the media, and civil society, to discuss the achievements and limitations of the Special Act from various perspectives.

“The humidifier disinfectant disaster was both a social disaster and a national tragedy that claimed the lives and health of countless people,” the NARS stated. “We hope this symposium will provide an opportunity to identify legislative and policy measures aimed at delivering tangible compensation that victims can truly feel and ensuring that the State fulfills its responsibility.”