Prosecutors on Wednesday sought for the arrest of four former and incumbent officials of the manufacturers involved in the humidifier disinfectant case. 

This is the first time that arrest is being sought against individuals from the companies that sold toxic sterilizers that are blamed for the deaths of at least 140 since 2011.

The Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office’s special team said that an arrest warrant has been sought for former CEO of Oxy Reckitt Benckiser Shin Hyun-woo, a former head of the company’s research team and one researcher. A businessman surnamed Oh, who manufactured and sold another humidifier disinfectant brand carrying the toxic PHMG substance, was also included.

The three Oxy officials face charges of causing death or harm to the users by skipping the toxicity test in 2000, and also for exaggerating and falsely promoting the product as being safe to children.

Since Oxy’s Oxy Ssak Ssak was introduced to the market in 2001, a total of 4.53 million were sold until August 2011. While 221 individuals have been officially confirmed by the government to have suffered lung damages, 177 have allegedly used the Oxy product. Of the 90 confirmed deaths, 70 are those that reportedly used Oxy’s sterilizer. 

Meanwhile, family representatives of toxic humidifier disinfectant victims on Wednesday criticized Oxy Reckitt Benckiser for not apologizing, despite their visit to the U.K. headquarters. 

Families of the victims and activists returned to Seoul after a six-day visit to the U.K. that included a visit to the firm’s headquarters to ask it to take responsibility for the massive number of deaths and health damages.

They said RB headquarters CEO Rakesh Kapoor only used words such as “profoundly regret” and “personally very sorry” in referring to the disinfectant tragedy. 

“Although the company’s press release said he had apologized to us, he did not use any expression of ‘apology’ to us nor did he have sincerity,” said Choi Ye-yong, the head of the Asian Citizen’s Center for Environment and Health, during a press conference upon his arrival back to Korea.
When asked to visit Seoul to sincerely apologize to the victims, the CEO did not give a response, added Choi. 

Families of the victims said they would continue the boycott movement until the company is expelled from the global market. 

“We have seen the same stance of Oxy for five years. There is no longer a reason to talk to the company anymore. The citizens-driven boycott movement is the only solution,” said 40-year-old Kim Deok-jong who lost his five-year-old son in 2009, allegedly from using the disinfectant. 

“(We) appreciate all the support from the public. Participating in the boycott is great support to us. Until the RB CEO kneels down in front of the victims and offers a sincere apology, (we) will continue and expand the boycott to the international market.” 

They will file a suit against the company to the U.K. prosecution after the local prosecutorial probe wraps up, they added. 

During the trip, they also visited Denmark to meet the former head of a Danish company which had provided the main ingredient of another local humidifier disinfectant Sefu that killed at least 14 Koreans. The company later shut down after the tragedy took place. 

The families of the victims obtained crucial information regarding the ingredient toxicity from the former head, they said. They submitted the data to the prosecution later in the day.

The Danish prosecution also vowed to cooperate with the probe into Sefu manufacturers and distributors, they added. 

The families also requested the heads of the Korean political parties to meet with them to discuss enacting a special law for victims’ compensation, holding a parliamentary hearing and investigation, and setting up a special committee to introduce relevant regulations. 

Meanwhile, more retailers and consumers have been seen participating in the boycott. 

Following distributors like Lotte Mart that joined the move last week, online commerce services Tmon and Coupang, convenient store chains GS25, CU and 7-Eleven, and large department stores Shinsegye, Hyundai and AK Department Store have decided to participate in the boycott movement, according to civic consumers’ group Korea National Council of Consumer Organization. 

By Lee Hyun-jeong (rene@heraldcorp.com)