The Fair Trade Commission (KFTC) has issued examination reports recommending prosecution for both firms, according to industry sources.
In 2018, the commission imposed fines totaling 161 million won (approximately $118,000) and ordered the companies to publish statements disclosing their legal violations in connection with a toxic humidifier disinfectant that has been linked to the deaths of more than 1,740 people and serious lung injuries in nearly 6,000 others.
Both companies challenged the ruling through administrative litigation. But the Supreme Court ultimately upheld the sanctions — against Aekyung in 2023 and SK Chemicals in 2024 — making the orders legally binding.
Despite this, the companies failed to carry out the required public disclosures within the 30-day period mandated by fair trade regulations, according to the KFTC. The regulator is expected to hold hearings in the coming weeks to consider further penalties.
The humidifier disinfectant crisis, which erupted over a decade ago, remains one of South Korea’s gravest public health disasters.
The chemicals, used by millions of households, proved especially harmful to vulnerable groups such as pregnant women and young children.
Aekyung and SK Chemicals were found to have manufactured and distributed the disinfectants without properly assessing the health risks, according to court rulings and government investigations.
reporter
Kim Dong-young
davekim0807@ajupress.com
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